Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Ina Townsend Young

November 14, 2007

Overcome by The Internet

Ina Townsend Young

Quite a few years ago, when home computers first came about, some friends of ours bought one of the first models.  I remember questioning them about the reasons.  What could you possibly use one for?  They explained all the fun things that one could do with one.  For example, they had it programmed at that time to type “I am a bad computer” one million times.  They didn’t understand why I didn’t think that sounded like fun.  I didn’t understand why they were my friends.

Well, we all know what has happened in the interim.  We all count on these boxes of circuitry for innumerable purposes.  My own personal dependence boggles my mind.  I never really realized just how much impact it’s had until yesterday.

We had talked earlier in the week about going to an Indians game this weekend.  Kevin had purchased the tickets on line while at work and I printed them out at home.  We were packing up because we always stay overnight in a hotel when we go into Cleveland.  Of course, our hotel reservations had been made on line.  I mentioned that the International Air Show is always in Cleveland on Labor Day weekend, and maybe we should look into tickets for the event before we leave.

We sat down at the dining room table, Kevin at the laptop.  I was going through the mail that had just arrived.  He found the information we needed, paid by credit card on line and was printing out our tickets.  I opened my credit card bill and got angry at myself for all of the purchases I had made.  They were all made on line.  I did manage a smile, though, when I looked over at my autographed copy of Ruth Dickson’s book which had also arrived in that day’s mail.  We all know where I know Ruth from.  I managed another smile when I looked at the box that was sitting on another of the dining room chairs.  It was filled with the prize I won from Joanne Huspek, along with some notes and other fun things.  I smiled because I knew we’d made plans to get together for a real life meeting soon.

I then started thinking about all the things that were going on in my life at that moment due to the internet.  I was kind of taken aback by the sheer volume of this and went to say something to my husband, whom I met on the internet…

Ina Townsend Young

mimisuzy127@yahoo.com