Seven years ago today, I woke up thinking "Today's the day. I'm going to go buy that computer. It's a great idea! Let's do it!" I zipped down to Office Depot and bought a beautiful laptop computer that I named "Dharma."
Dharma was my constant companion for the next five years. I knew nothing about using a computer when I bought her. For the first year I immersed myself in computer use. I'd start first thing in the morning. When I looked up, it would be getting dark.
There were plenty of problems. Compaq technical assistance was second on my speed dial, right after 911. I bought a phone with a speakerphone so I could endure the hold times - not just from Compaq but from all the other hardware and software technical support lines.
Some problems were due to the fatal combination of curiosity, daring, and inexperience. Once I accidentally deleted all my Windows Help files. When I called Compaq Tech, there was only one person in the room there who knew how to help me get them back without reformatting the hard drive. It worked.
Every problem taught me something. That's really how I learned to use the computer, bouncing from one problem and tech support call to the next. I did use books, but it was really the problems that were my curriculum. Now I turn to Google for most technical problems or questions, but back then live technical support was pretty good. (Yes, those were the good old days....)
Windows 95 required most maintence chores to be done manually, so I learned a lot that way too.My Windows 95 operating system became a patchwork of updates, fixes, etc. When I did eventually have to reformat the hard drive, it took a week to get everything back. I had to download all those newer drivers, patches, and more. Of course after that I saved them all on a zip disc - but I never had to reformat again.
So now Windows XP seems like a dream. When I bought a new computer, I moved my office out of the tiny clean studio, into a corner of the cabin where I live. This enabled me to buy a desktop with a beautiful large flat screen. It's healthier and more comfortable than working on the laptop. But I still have loving memories of that first computer, Dharma.
So this is a personal holiday:Dharma's "birthday" for me. Being online has opened up the world to me. Here I am now, writing to people all over the world, from a tiny cabin in the woods, way out from town. Thank you, Dharma.
12:35:42 PM 
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