Each time we head to Costco, we had the same conversation each time we walked in. Starting with the rows of computers with all their beautiful shiny screens next to the giant televisions and ending close to the camera section. I would tell him “the prices are going down.” I sounded a little like a child at Christmas time in the toy store. Silly, I know, as I am an adult, an actual baby boomer. But concerning the world of computers, I feel like a child. This has been a charming yet painful voyage into the world of the Internet with all of its gadgets and paraphernalia. 

Being of the the “older generation” and a voyeur to all the technology growth over these 50 some years, I never thought I would have such a large body of knowledge to absorb and conquer at this stage in my life. I’m reasonably intelligent after all. How terrifying and yet exciting to embark on this journey! I guess it means I’m not dead yet! It feels a little like standing on the precipice of a cliff (the kind you see in Mexico). You want to jump and yet it looks so far to fall. I had that kind of excited fear each time I went into the local Best Buy or Fry’s Electronics. The Apple Store held as much wonder and terror as any of them. 

I told my husband Bob that I was interested in having my own computer for my makeup sales, and for writing recipes in the kitchen. His response was: “You don’t need one. You don’t use the one in my office as it is.” I have to agree. I don’t need many things I have. A million shoes for example. But I wanted a computer of my own. So I covertly started looking on my own. I’m not sure when it started really, probably about two years ago. The quick flash into the store, and then panic and retreat. I was sure someone would know how much I didn’t know just by the confused look on my face. Or worse still, think I was a thief casing the joint! Comparing prices was interesting. You have to know what kind of processor and memory you want or need to be able to compare Apples to Apples and oranges to oranges (no pun intended).

I had my work cut out for me. I needed to investigate buying a computer. It was apparent to me after multiple trips into the big-box stores that reconnaissance would not be enough. The language alone had me so confused. I was sure everyone in the store would know how behind and out of touch I was. This was my M.O. I would start in the movie section of the store, and gradually wonder over to the computer area. There I almost always found TOO MUCH INFORMATION. Every label promised to add to my language barrier. There were always plenty of young tech-wise clerks who offered to help me find what ever I wanted. They had that “you poor thing, you look so lost “ look. If I could have just told one of them how lost I was. But that knowing smile, a grin really, kept me from confessing. I was just that I didn’t know what I was looking for. I wanted to jump in but it looked so far, and I was afraid of the landing.