magic

One of my assignments at the public library is to help with the adult computer classes on Thursday evenings. They provide six classes on a rotating basis, geared to older patrons with limited computer experience. My role is to help out as needed, offering individualized supervision as someone gets stuck. The hardest thing for these older patrons is the double click, they can’t do it quite fast enough. Another challenge is holding the mouse still while clicking. Some have no keyboard experience and it is a case of “hunt and hunt and peck.” Being that I fall into their same age group, I have much compassion on their challenges, and I, too, am learning a lot.

Last week the class had a few no-shows, but a Korean gentleman, James, came by, intending to just listen. He sat at a computer and was soon involved in the class, but needed my undivided attention, mostly because his English was somewhat limited. We had quite the fun evening together. The class was on Word and was very exciting to him. I showed him how to change the font and he laughed and laughed, exclaiming in his broken English, “It like magic!” He was amazed at every new thing he learned, shaking his head and laughing out loud. Learning to cut & paste nearly sent him over the edge, he was so impressed, “Who think of this, Bill Gates?” It was a delight for me to be a part of the thrill he was experiencing over things I have come to take for granted.

My evening with him caused me to think back 20+ years ago to when I got my first word processor. I had been struggling along with a hand-me-down electric typewriter that I had to use standing on its end to keep the motor from freezing up. Typos were painstakingly corrected or just typed over if I was in a rush. That first word processor revolutionized my little domain and opened a whole new world of words and their possibilities to me. I remember being just as excited and thrilled as James had been. I wondered whatever happened to that excitement. Have I forgotten how marvelous these tools are? Have they become so commonplace as to not be special anymore? Are we so accustomed to the rapid pace of technological advances that we have come to expect them instead of being in awe of them? Have I just neglected to be truly grateful?

Thank-you, James, for reminding me.