When things don't work

When I started writing these columns, I had a large tablet with lined yellow pages. I wrote with a pencil so I could erase mistakes. When I finished the column, I would go back and decide if I wanted a certain paragraph to be later in the essay. If so, I would draw brackets around that part with an arrow to indicate where I wanted to replace it. Sometimes I would use the eraser so often that the paper developed a hole under the word and I had to rewrite the word in tiny letters above the hole.

With that beautiful manuscript, I went to the typewriter and typed the whole thing with a liberal amount of white-out to cover the typos. Then, I hand-delivered the column to the newspaper office. If an illustration was needed I would drive around town until I found the proper item to photograph that would fit my purpose. Then, I had to use up the rest of the film in the camera in order to get the pictures developed at Wilkinson's, where the paper had an account. It would take another trip to town to pick up the photos and deliver them to the newspaper office.

Now, as soon as I get my idea for the column, I sit down at my laptop computer and start typing. I don't worry about errors or good composition because it is no problem to go back and move words or paragraphs around. The spell check will underline any errors, and at my request, will correct the word or the word order.

After I have given it one more read-through for possible changes, I will then print the essay for my files, and send the essay by email to the paper. If an illustration is needed, I can usually find one on the Internet that will do, or if I need to take a personal picture, I will take the disc in to the office and Sarah will print the picture for their use. And then, I wait until Friday, to see how it all looks as it comes to the subscribers.

Things are so easy these days, aren't they? EXCEPT when things don't work.

This morning the Internet on my laptop computer won't come on. There are a few clouds. That might be the problem, but there's no storm. I can type out the column and print it, but I can't send it to the paper until the Internet decides to come on. That may mean a trip to town, if it doesn't start to work soon.

Since I loaned my car to my son, who is having his truck repaired, that could be a problem. I told him I wouldn't need my car because I can do everything at home. So, even though, in the neighborhood, there are several vehicles for the several family members, because one of them wasn't working, my Internet not working made more of a problem.

That problem can be overcome with a trip to town, but with the Internet not working, I can't play Scrabble on Facebook with my friends. This wonderful ability to play my favorite game with my nephew in Virginia, my friend from the Road Scholar programs in St. Louis, a friend who lives in north Missouri, who used to live here, and my daughter, who lives down the road a piece, is great fun. UNTIL something doesn't work. Then those four people are left waiting for my next great play so they can add an even better one.

It's amazing to me how quickly I became addicted to these new conveniences. I protested beginning each of them, thinking I was very proficient at the old way. But once I was convinced, I not only was convinced, but addicted. Today, I couldn't begin to think about going back to the old way with this column. It sounds like way too much trouble. But it could still be done. That is, it could be done if I had the batteries for the camera juiced up and I get my car back.

As for the Scrabble games, I might even have to play with someone right here at home. Like, maybe, my husband?