I was a Computer Dummy

Like many other adults I was simply in awe of how even preteen kids have gained mastery of computers. Personally, the thought of owning a computer scared the Hell out of me for a long time. It was a huge step when I finally purchased my first home computer system.

Even though I was in my 50's, it was like being in grade one again when I first got it hooked up and turned it on. I just didn't have a clue how to do anything. Even now, after 4 years, I've probably only scratched the surface of what even my simple computer is capable of doing.

DUMB MISTAKES:

For months I was giving my email address to any site that asked for it. I just didn't know any different. Finally I had to ask a more computer savvy friend what could possibly be causing the deluge of creepy, spam emails I was receiving. He explained that some sites latched on to my email address and passed it out like candy on Halloween. Eventually I just canceled the email address and started over. Only this time I was more careful. However, it was clever how I would get all those sites offering great sex and at the same time be bombarded about penis enhancement. I guess they wanted to make sure I could handle the action.

In those early months, I didn't realize that I often had 5 or 6 windows open at the same time. For some reason I thought that when you left one and went to another, the first one just disappeared. My computer would eventually get all jammed up and I would have to shut it off and start over again.

Then there were the times I would spend a long time typing something into a notepad and then erase the whole thing because I didn't know I was supposed to "save it" before clicking on the pad to close it and going on to something else.

Once I was on one of those sites where you download music or movies and I had downloaded a movie that had just come out. I didn't realize that anyone else in the world could download that movie from me. That is unless I clicked the right button to prevent it. At the time I didn't know the option existed. Finally the cable company called me and asked me what was going on. They had noticed as amazing amount of traffic being generated to my computer. I guess there were hundreds, or even thousands of people trying to download the movie. All at the same time. The cable guy said he was watching it happen even while we were talking on the phone. He walked me through how to erase the site completely from my computer and the traffic stopped right away. Of course I lost the tape of the Beatles doing 'Hey Jude' back in the sixties. Not to mention about 200 songs. Bummer.

WORD 'NOT SO' PERFECT:

Word perfect was an adventure from Hell the first few times I tried to use it. I couldn't get anything to work. I would type things and they would disappear, never to be seen again. All of a sudden the letters would be the size of a small car. Or the size of a large grain of sand. Then they would appear in all different 'kinds' of print. Then the line of print would go two inches across the page and stop--and begin another tiny line. I'm sure all this had to do with all the things I was clicking on at the top of the page. Somehow. I think.

Then I would finally get something that looked not too bad. It might have taken me three hours, but at least it was there. That is, until I turned off the computer for the day. Do you think I could find it when I went back to word perfect?
Nooooooo. Of course not. Turn of the computer and its gone. At least that's what I thought at first. For a while, I thought I wasn't supposed to shut the computer off, because everything disappears if you do. The concept of "save" took a while to sink in.

FOUR YEARS LATER:

I think I've come a long way. Last year I built a website and now on any given month I have about 2000 visitors from over 50 countries. Not 'tons' of visitors, but considering I still don't know how to get my site 'out there' so people can find it, its not too bad.

Also, just last month I published a book online. If someone had of told me 4 years ago, that I would accomplish that, I think they would have got the 'deer in the headlight' look.

So I guess the saying 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' isn't entirely true. you can in fact learn new tricks when you are an old dog. That is, as long as you are willing to keep trying when the computer Gods trample you into the dust over and over again. So, if you are new to computers and are having a rough time, just keep on keeping on.

Because I promise, it does get easier.