Views from the Electronically Challenged

I am an electronic "drop out". Being from "Missouri.....the show me state", I cannot learn anything from a manual, guidebook, cheat sheet, you name it. Take for example, my digital camera. My computer was all hooked up to accept pictures. As soon as I plugged in the camera or the memory stick, a little whiz (I'm convinced a little man inside my computer), made a noise and bingo ... the application came on the transfer pictures. It isn't there anymore??? I got to thinking that maybe I needed to put the camera's disc in and add the application. Well, when I did that it started asking me all sorts of questions, so I popped it out in fear of really screwing things up.

Then I popped the memory stick into the front of the damn computer...nothing happened. I gave up.

I started to think about how a couple weeks ago I didn't even know how to "IM" someone until a friend walked me through it on Facebook. And guess what, I just found out that if you get your shift lock stuck on all caps ... you are shouting!!! How come these things just slipped by me???

I thought I was pretty smart.

Now here is the latest. My new cell phone ... the one I had to have because I couldn't figure out how to text without a full keyboard...all by itself called 411 three times this month. I never use 411 but I am guessing since it is at the very top of my contact list, I probably hit the wrong button three times, racking up a rather embarrassing bill.

I have to use a computer at work. There are things I do without thinking because it is part of my job. I love my computer at home because living alone is very lonely and it keeps me connected with those that I love and miss. I like my camera because I love the concept of having the pictures at your fingertips immediately. I guess I love my cell phone but I would love it more if it worked in my apartment. I'm sure I love my TiVo, even though I can't always figure it out, either. And God forbid my WiFi ever quits. I barely know how to stick a DVD into the player and watch a movie. I've never figured out how to fast forward, go back, etc. And I always have to watch the previews because I don't know how "not to".

Heck, I'm sixty-one ... I guess I wasn't a part of the electronic age growing up and some things just can't seep into this brain. My kids get sick of telling me how but I never get tired of asking for directions.

Gosh, maybe someday I'll get that Blue Tooth thingie that I just had to have out of the box and try that out.