A switch in my brain turns off when I hear the word "app." When I bought a smart phone, the only app I downloaded was for the altitude. Useful for hiking.

Joann's Fabrics sends me 1-2 emails each day with coupons. This requires I bring the damn phone- whoops, my attitude is showing- to the store.

"You need to download Jonann's app to access your coupons," the clerk said at the check stand today. "They need your email."

"They already have my email," I replied. "Why do I need an app? Today when I clicked on Jonann's coupon in my email, it went to Google Play. I don't want to play games on my phone."

"I don't want to play games, either," she replied. "Go talk to Amanda." She pointed to a store clerk in her 20s. Naturally.

"What's the app for?" I asked Amanda. "An app, an app," she replied (as if this explained it). "It's to get coupons and sales. Can I see your phone?" I handed her my phone.

At my insistence, Amanda showed how to get Joann's emailed coupons without the app. The trick is to click on the word, "Get." I didn't even notice "Get" until Amanda showed me.

This is maddening. I don't care about being out of sync with today's phone-obsessed culture. But it's irritating when a store makes me feel incompetent.