Webster defines accomplished as done successfully, completed,skilled, proficient,having social poise, polished. To say I have any of the above when it comes to computer skills remains to be seen, however, let me take you back to early November of 05 when I thought a mouse was a little gray creature than ran around the house scaring people to death; I thought surfing was done on a surf board on the water, and I thought an icon was a head of state, a very important person. None of which I knew applied to a box that set on a desk in people's office, kitchen, or where one might keep their computer. I was computer illiterate, to say the least, and had commented many times," I hoped I would go to heaven before I'd ever have to learn a computer." Computer skills were for the 'young and restless' not this 59 year old woman, whose world had made many turns. Yet it seemed the world became more demanding in their demand for all to have a computer. The nerve of those people, many times you'd hear from the T.V., "now to enter this contest, or to respond to this question, just go to www. ? . com. I would say to my husband, "now what's a person suppose to do that doesn't have a computer," many times he'd say,"I guess you're just left out, or you'll have to learn a computer. On a particular incident, I was ask to be help coordinate a certain project, and the comment was made, she can't do that, "Why she doesn't even have a computer."
I knew I was really behind the times, when we had three young family members at our home for a sleep over, they camped out in our living room, with tents their Momma had made them for Christmas, the two girls would sleep in one and little brother in the other, however he would travel back and forth for a visit. Their pretend world took them to the wiles of the desert on a camping trip, yet I was amused by his comment and he sojourned back to his tent, he called out to the girls, "now if you need anything during the night, "you can reach me a WWW.COM." I decided I'd take my husband up on his offer of, 'you take computer classes and learn how to use one, and I'll buy you a computer.'
In our community the local library teams up with the school system to offer adult education classes in 'beginner computer skills'. I grabbed my mouse and surf board and took the plunge, and believe me, there were many times, I thought I would drown. The waves of, "right click, left click, tool bar, maximize, minis, now turn off your computer you click on start" just to name a few, would keep me below the surface. I would struggle to keep my head above water, when it seemed everyone else in the class were sailing smoothly.
After two months of classes, my kind hubby was as good as his word he bought me a computer. I began practicing at home, feeling very unsure of myself, however I did know with a click of the mouse, I could venture to new and exciting things, or suddenly pages of my newly written document would just disappear. A whole new world for this baby boomer. Within a few weeks of finishing the classes, they were offered again, and with a little encouragement from hubby, I took the beginners classes over. Why not, they were free, and I was far from an experienced surfer, I was still scared to death of the water.
According to Webster, I've not accomplished the computer, because my computer skills are certainly not complete, however I'm very proud of the fact, that in a year and half of compute-ring, I've written my Mother a book, something that I am indeed proud of. It was a gift she will Cherish the remaining years of her life, "It is about she and my father's courtship and their marriage in the early years of WW11." This was something I had desired to do for many years, but felt very inferior and inadequate in the world of writers. The book is far from perfect, so are my computer skills, however I must say, in the past eighteen months I have quoted Ph. 413 often, "I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens Me."
Through Jesus' strength and help, I've accomplished many writings, done much community service and now do church bulletins weekly all because of the computer. Though not completed, I'm indeed proud of the fact I hold a mouse in my hand daily and I don't scream to my husband, "There's a mouse in the house."