Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
A fter getting home from the tech store, Grandma Sarah went directly to the computer room looking for Alisha.
“Hey Mrs. Garrison, what are you up to?”
“I just got back from Tech Galaxy. I bought a bunch of stuff, but I have no idea how to put it all together. Do you think you could help me?”
Alisha nodded. “Of course. I get off work at three o’clock, I could come over then if you’d like.”
“That would be perfect. Thank you. I’ll see you then. I’ve got more shopping to do.”
Getting her hair done and buying a few new outfits, Grandma Sarah felt confident that there didn’t seem to be more to this video-making hobby than looking good and having the right equipment.
She couldn’t do much about her age, but she had a list of items the 80-year-old influencer recommended. She felt confident by the end of the day, and with Alisha’s help, she’d be ready to go.
She strolled into Miramar Mall, her list clutched in one hand and her handbag slung over her shoulder. Her first stop was a makeup counter.
As she approached the counter, a young, enthusiastic makeup artist named Dana greeted her with a bright smile. "Welcome! How can I help you today?"
“Hello Dana, I’m Sarah Garrison and I’m looking for some makeup," Grandma Sarah said, eyeing the rows of colorful products. "I want to look fabulous for my new video venture."
Dana’s eyes lit up with interest. "A video venture? That sounds exciting! What kind of videos are you planning to make?"
"Well, I'm not entirely sure yet," Sarah admitted with a chuckle. "But I know I need to look good doing it. I want to start with the basics."
"We can definitely help with that," Dana assured her. "Let's start with the foundation. Do you prefer a matte or dewy finish?"
Grandma Sarah chuckled. "Honey, at my age, I'm just happy if it doesn't slide off my face!"
They both laughed, and Dana began selecting a few products. After testing and picking out a foundation that perfectly matched Sarah's skin tone, they moved on to blush, eye shadows, and lipsticks. Dana explained each product in detail, offering tips on how to apply them for the best effect.
"Now, this blush will give you a nice, natural glow," Dana said, applying a light dusting to Sarah's cheeks. "And these eye shadows will make your eyes pop."
Sarah admired herself in the mirror. "Wow, I haven't seen my brows look this good since the 60s!"
Dana laughed. "You're a natural beauty, Mrs. Garrison. Makeup is just the icing on the cake."
After selecting a few more items, Grandma Sarah thanked Dana and headed towards the spa and salon. The spa was a haven of tranquility, with soft music playing in the background and the scent of lavender in the air. Sarah approached the receptionist, a young woman named Emily.
"I called this morning, I have an appointment to get my hair styled," she announced.
“You’re Mrs. Garrison?”
“That’s right.”
The woman smiled and walked around the desk.
“Right this way, Mrs. Garrison," she said, leading her to a cozy room with a comfortable reclining chair.
A young woman named Savannah came into the room.
“Hello, Mrs. Garrison, I’m Savannah.”
Sarah nodded. “Hello. I’ve never had my eyebrows shaped before. I just let them do what they’re going to do.”
Savannah smiled. “Well, you will love how they’ll look when I’m done.”
Savannah chatted amiably as she worked, making Sarah feel at ease.
"Have you always been this adventurous, Mrs. Garrison?" Maria asked as she carefully plucked and shaped.
"Oh, you bet," Sarah replied with a grin. "You only live once, right? Besides, I want to keep up with the times. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?"
Savannah laughed. "Absolutely! You're an inspiration."
Next came the facial, which left her skin feeling rejuvenated and smooth. Sarah sighed contentedly as the warm, fragrant steam enveloped her face. The technician applied various serums and creams, massaging them in with expert precision.
"This feels heavenly," Sarah murmured. "I could get used to this. Do people fall asleep in this position, because I think I might.”
The woman chuckled. “It happens more than you’d imagine.”
Finally, she was escorted to the hair salon, where a stylist named Mia took over. Mia had a warm smile and confident air about her.
"What are we doing with your hair today?" Mia asked, running her fingers through Sarah's silver locks.
"I want something that says, 'I'm ready to conquer the internet,'" Grandma Sarah declared.
Mia grinned. "Say no more." She worked her magic, cutting, coloring, and styling Sarah's hair into a chic bob that framed her face perfectly. The new cut accentuated her features and gave her a youthful, vibrant look.
Grandma Sarah admired herself in the mirror. "I look like a million bucks! Maybe even two million!"
Mia laughed. "You're all set. Go out there and wow them!"
Feeling like a new woman, Grandma Sarah left the salon, her bags of makeup in tow. She couldn't wait to show Alisha her transformation.
As she walked through the mall, she decided to treat herself to a new outfit to complete her makeover. She found a trendy boutique and picked out a few stylish pieces, including a sleek pair of jeans, a flattering blouse, and a statement necklace that added a touch of glamor.
At the checkout counter, the cashier complimented her choices. "You have great taste, ma'am. These will look fantastic on you."
"Thank you, dear," Sarah said, beaming. "I'm reinventing myself for a new adventure."
As she walked through the mall, Sarah couldn't help but notice a small crowd gathered around a kiosk advertising the latest smartphone gadgets. She stopped to take a closer look, intrigued by the devices on display. A young salesman, eager to make a sale, approached her.
"Hello, ma'am! Can I interest you in some cutting-edge technology for your smartphone?" he asked with a wide smile.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to look," Sarah replied, her curiosity piqued.
The salesman demonstrated various gadgets, from portable chargers to camera lenses that could be attached to her phone. Sarah was particularly interested in a device that promised to enhance video recording quality.
"This would be perfect for my new video venture," she said, examining the gadget closely.
"Absolutely! It's top of the line and very user-friendly," the salesman assured her.
Sarah decided to add the gadget to her growing collection of tech accessories. "I'll take it. Thank you for the demonstration."
As she finished her shopping spree, Sarah felt a sense of accomplishment. She was not only keeping up with the times, but also embracing new technology with enthusiasm. She couldn't wait to share her adventures with Alisha later that afternoon.
Back at her condo, Grandma Sarah busied herself in the kitchen, baking her famous chocolate chip cookies. The aroma filled the air, and she hummed a cheerful tune as she mixed the dough. She wanted everything to be perfect for Alisha's visit.
At precisely three o'clock, the doorbell rang. Grandma Sarah hurried to open it, wiping her hands on her apron. "Alisha, come in, come in! I baked some cookies for you."
Alisha stepped inside, her eyes widening at the spread of cookies on the counter. "Wow, Mrs. Garrison, these look amazing! And, look at you. You’re gorgeous. You’ve got makeup on, your nails are beautiful, and I love your new hairdo.”
“Thank you, Alisha.” Handing her the plate of cookies, she asked, “Would you like something to drink with them?”
“No, I’m fine. I have about an hour before I have to leave, so we should get to work.”
“Sounds good.” Sarah pointed to the floor in the living room. “I bought all that.”
"All right, let's see what you've got."
The living room had a mountain of boxes and gadgets stacked in the corner. Alisha started unpacking the items, sorting them out while Sarah watched with curiosity and confusion.
"So, what's this thing to do?" Sarah asked, holding up a small, mysterious device.
"That's a microphone," Alisha explained. "You'll need it for good audio quality."
Sarah nodded. "Good audio, got it. And this one?"
"That's a ring light. It helps with lighting, so you look even more fabulous on camera."
Sarah winked. "Well, I need all the help I can get."
As Alisha set up the equipment, she couldn't help but laugh at some of Sarah's questions and comments.
"Alisha, do you think this green screen will make me look like I'm on a beach somewhere? Because that sounds delightful."
"It can, actually," Alisha replied, smiling. "We can use it to create different backgrounds."
"Wonderful! I've always wanted to visit Paris. Maybe I'll do a video from the Eiffel Tower."
They both laughed as they continued setting up the gear. With Alisha's expertise and Sarah's infectious enthusiasm, the condo was soon transformed into a mini studio.
"Okay, Mrs. Garrison, let's test everything out," Alisha said, positioning the camera. "Can you sit over there and talk to the camera for a minute?"
Sarah sat in the chair, adjusted her new hairstyle, and smiled at the camera. "Hello, everyone! This is Sarah Garrison, your new favorite internet grandma. Today, we're going to make some delicious chocolate chip cookies!"
Alisha laughed behind the camera. "Perfect! Now, let's see how the audio sounds." She played back the recording, and they both listened intently.
Sarah nodded approvingly. "Not bad, not bad at all. But I think I sounded a bit too serious. Let's try it again with a bit more pep."
They did a few more test runs, adjusting the lighting and audio settings until everything was just right. Sarah's confidence grew with each take, and Alisha was impressed with her natural charm and wit.
"You're a natural, Mrs. Garrison," Alisha said, packing up the extra equipment. "I think you're going to be a hit."
Sarah beamed. "Thank you, Alisha. I couldn't have done this without you. You're a real lifesaver."
Alisha smiled. "You're welcome. And hey, keep those cookies coming, and I'll help you anytime."
Sarah chuckled, patting Alisha on the back. "Deal. I can’t wait to get this show on the road!"
With everything set up, Sarah and Alisha sat down to enjoy the cookies and a cup of tea. They chatted about Sarah's plans for her videos, sharing ideas and brainstorming topics.
"I was thinking of doing some cooking videos, of course," Sarah said, nibbling on a cookie. "But maybe also some crafting tutorials? I used to be quite the knitter back in the day."
"That sounds great," Alisha said. "People love learning new skills, and you have so much experience to share."
Sarah nodded thoughtfully. "And maybe some story-time videos. I have so many stories from my younger days. I bet people would enjoy that."
"Absolutely," Alisha agreed. "Your stories are always so entertaining."
“The only thing I would caution you about are two things. The first is you can’t video someone without their permission. That’s important. You don’t want to be in violation or get sued. The other is I would run what you’re doing by the management of Marina Bluff Estates. They might not want you videotaping their property. You don’t want to get kicked out of here.”
Sarah’s smile disappeared. “Oh dear. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll check with them. Thank you for letting me know.”
Being an influencer online had more responsibilities than she’d realized, By the time Alisha left, Sarah was excited but nervous about doing it wrong. The only way she could make sure she was doing things the right way was to talk to the people in charge to get permission.
As she stood in the doorway, waving goodbye, Sarah couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and anticipation. She was ready to embark on this new adventure, and with Alisha's help, she was confident that she could succeed.
The next morning, Sarah woke up early, filled with excitement. She decided to take a walk on the beach to clear her mind and gather inspiration. She also thought it would be fun to have a channel where she'd share her secret chocolate chip cookie recipe.
After her walk, she returned home, energized and ready to start filming. She set up the camera and lights, recalling Alisha's instructions on how to position everything for the best effect. Sarah took a deep breath, sat in front of the camera, and pressed record.
"Hello, everyone! This is Sarah Garrison, your new favorite internet grandma. Today, we're going to make some delicious chocolate chip cookies. But first, let me tell you a little bit about myself and why I decided to start this channel."
It was an important first test video. She wouldn’t upload it anywhere. For now, she’d play around with the equipment and familiarize herself with each component.
She looked forward to taking her camera on her adventures, but there was something vital she needed to do first. And, with any luck, she wouldn’t find herself dead after her first attempt.