Rapides Parish Journal and former Town Talk colleague Bob Tompkins’ eulogy yesterday on occasion of the local newspaper ceasing home delivery recalled this from my working life a decade ago.

A participant at our company’s digital meeting noted that this internet stuff is okay for young readers but old people don’t adjust to it.

Qualifying as the later, I took exception, after promising myself I’d keep my mouth shut.

So much for promises.

As an “old” person, I have grown weary of stereotypes heaped upon my shoulders about my inability to adopt and adapt.

I’ve made my way successfully through cable TV, microwave ovens, wrinkle-free clothing, Pandora and paperless books.

I’ve transitioned from propellers to jet engines, moon rockets to space stations, hi fi to surround sound.

Why do people who’ve not yet paid off their first car note or entered their first home mortgage think I, and my generational compatriots, cannot figure out their digital publications?

Just because we can’t shake the digital newspaper in someone’s face, or leave it on a stool at the lunch counter, or pin a clipping from it on the fridge or fold it and put it in a scrapbook does not mean we can’t or won’t use it.

A 2023 afterthought: We can and do use digital newspapers, but content must be there.

Two journalists, despite best efforts, cannot provide enough. Both remaining downtown (I had opportunity to work with them several years) are first-rate but can do only so much, and even that is passed to judgment of content manager elsewhere who likely doesn’t know Waterproof from Williana.

Jim Butler, a Bolton High School alumnus, was an acclaimed writer and editor at the Alexandria Town Talk for 36 years, the last 23 (1977-2003) as editor-in-chief. He led Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina for the Gulfport (Miss.) Sun-Herald in 2005. Butler returned home to Cenla a few years ago, and shares his talents and insight with Rapides Parish Journal readers.