My dad was already sitting in a booth when I walked in to meet him for a cup of coffee.

“I thought it was going to be warm,” I said.  “I’m not dressed right for this weather.”

“Don’t you check your phone every morning to find out the temperature before you get dressed?” he asked.

“No. Do you?”

“Every morning. Let me show you how to do it.”

And he proceeded to show me the weather app on his phone.

This is the same man who once picked up the remote control for my television and started pressing the numbers, trying to make a phone call.

He’s come a long way.

A few years ago, when my dad’s flip phone needed to be replaced, he said that he wanted an iPhone like my mom.

I was with her when she bought it, and we were assured if he didn’t like it, he could get another flip phone. I passed the information onto him after I showed him how to use his new phone.

“No way,” he said. “I’m keeping this phone. You should never go backwards.”

The only regret I have is showing him how to add contacts. Prior to using this feature, he memorized the phone numbers of family and friends, which is a skill I abandoned.

There are other skills my husband is determined to polish in me. Maybe it’s because he’s tired of answering my phone calls when I want to play a DVD for the grandkids, find the router when the Internet’s down or need to scan and fax a document.

At least I no longer ask if it’s going to rain. My dad showed me the app for that.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.