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Now, heretofore, "The Web" was always this secret language that everyone else seemed to know, except me. They bantered terms around (that I could only guess at), with the ease of someone born to the tongue.

People would say, Just go to www dot , and my heart would begin racing. They assumed, of course, everyone had a computer, and could just pop over to get their information quick as a wink. (For awhile there, it became somewhat of an adventure trying to get info, without using a computer.) More and more of the world was opening up out there, while my world was becoming shrunken and limited, because I didnt speak their language. I was being left behind.

My very first (face to face) encounter with a computer, happened at the library. It had been quite a few years since school, so I hadnt noticed all the changes, until I needed to go research something, and ran smack dab into a completely revamped system. Gone were 90% of the books I had expected to see, and in its place, was a computer screen. (Oh Lord, help!)

The librarian was very patient, as she led me over to a desk, sat me down, and clicked a few buttons to get me started. (I think she saw the panic in my eyes.) Later, I learned that quite a few people come into the library, to start getting acquainted with computers. Its not that the librarians are there teach everyone, but they are around if you really get stuck with something.

At our library, with the swipe of my (freshly renewed) library card, they allow 60 minutes a day of computer time. I must have sat there for a good 5 minutes, just studying the keyboard, and reading the things on the screen. (I was determined not to break it, my first time out.)

My only practical reference, to this thing I was sitting in front of, was a typewriter (and a lot of the keys are the same), so I preceded on that premise. That worked for awhile, because I could use the hand clicker (mouse), to move a pointer around to various things, and just press a button to go where I wanted. (Computers these days, really are pretty good at directing you around in there.)

However, a few visits later, when I decided to try the word processor (the part of the computer that writes letters, like a typewriter), I came up against a problem. This thing didnt have a arm-bar, so when I got to the end of a line, I couldnt figure out what to push, to get it onto the next line. I studied the keyboard numerous times for some clue, and tried quite a few buttons, but nothing worked.

After about 20 minutes of stumbling, and grumbling (I was beginning to feel my exasperation rising), a very nice college student leaned over from the adjoining desk, and said, Try the Enter button. It worked, and I was so elated that, from the way I was grinning, youd think Id just discovered America. (I guess it was a kind of personal discovery, because it felt like I had jumped the first hurdle of this new race.)

It wasnt until later, when I got my own computer, that I took the time to really learn about all the tools I now have at my fingertips. Whether Im typing letters, or researching in the Library of Congress, this new window to the world is a pretty amazing place. (Hmmm, think Ill go over to the NASA site, to see whats happening in the universe today.)

Ill leave you with a little advice;

1. Lock up your credit card before you get online, because just about every site wants to sell you something, that you didnt know you needed five minutes ago. (Be careful out there because, just as in the real world, you cant believe everything you read or hear.)

2. The good thing about the web is, there are plenty of sites where you can double-check information. Actually, I think old farts are good at research, because they have the patience, and will take the time to look beyond the surface of things. (We didnt grow up, standing in front of a microwave, going Hurry, hurry, hurry!.)

3. Explore, explore, explore! Its a great, big, wondrous web world out there, and its still in its Wild, West stage. Its about time you claimed your little piece of it! (I kind of like the idea, of being a pioneer in the grand scheme of things.)

About The Author:

B. MacNichol is the award winning, premier poet of the frameable greeting card line - N OTHER WORDS , whose background includes Senior Engineering, Master Drafting, Journeyman Blacksmithing, and Farriery (horseshoeing). While spending her formative years in Missouri, she currently resides in the mountains of North Georgia, and is pursuing a professional writing career. To view additional samples of her work, please link to http://www.notherwords.com

posted by qzqcuz  # 9:37 PM