Photo: Shirley Curry via Kotaku
A grandmother who plays the Skyrim video game has made more than 300 popular YouTube videos about her pastime. Her videos are said to be soothing.
File this article under “Never Too Old.” It’s a 2016 Kotaku story by Alex Walker that showed how one woman in her 80s became rather cutting edge.
“Unsurprisingly, Skyrim: Special Edition quickly became one of the most popular games on Steam over the weekend,” Walker reported. “And given that she had already established herself as a channel for older gamers and Skyrim fans, it made sense that Shirley Curry, aka Grandma Shirley, would return to Skyrim.
“Her 300th video highlights just how prolific the 80-year-old gamer has been when it comes to updating her YouTube channel. Her first Skyrim ‘Let’s Play’ was uploaded on September 18, and since then she’s received a Silver Play button from YouTube — a button given out to channels with more than 100,000 subscribers. …
“The Virginia-based grandmother … gained a following for [the videos’] calming, almost meditative quality.” More here.
I also saw this report from Elizabeth Tyree & Annie Andersen of WSET ABC television. They quote Grandma Shirley saying, ” ‘One of my sons gave me my first computer and he gave me a game, and he taught me how to use both and I got so addicted, I was playing that game day and night, day and night. He would say, “Mom you have to eat and sleep sometime,” Curry said.
“The Rocky Mount senior isn’t the only mature gamer. But she may be the only one with a huge cult following on YouTube.
” ‘It just went viral. I got on my email and it was like 11,000 emails and I didn’t know what to do. I sat here and cried,’ Curry said. …
“Her newfound popularity and the demand for her YouTube can be overwhelming.
” ‘Now, I just make my 30 minute recording. That’s about all I get to do. Because then I spend so much time reading comments and replying,’ Curry said.”
It’s good to have role models. I took up blogging in my 60s. It wasn’t because of the two old gals in wheelchairs who used to blog about politics in funny, unexpurgated language. But seeing them out there sure didn’t hurt. What other seniors have taken up something fun and different?
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
No, you’re never too old, and it always baffles me when seniors maintain they cannot learn how to use technology. Really? Because so many do. And while there is plenty of bad stuff, there is more than enough good to make up for the bad. As Grandma Shirley illustrates.
Plenty of us use technology. I know I forget basic things sometimes, but I am not one of those cliche grandmas who has to go ask a 6 year old what to do next.
Yay! I think most of us do, but I frequently run into a senior who doesn’t. 😉
I remember hearing about her on our local news. She lives in my hometown. Such a small world! 😀
How interesting! Thanks for letting me know!