Drink Deep

No, not deeply. The theme, though, like drinking, does lead to a wobbly path. I was educated at a time when memorizing poetry, especially from dead Europeans, was required, and I had a mother who taught English for twenty years and cleaned house to the rhythm of lines she knew. So, Alexander Pope with these lines, define my place in life right now. “A little learnng is a dangerous thing. Drink deep or taste not the Pierian Springs.” The Pierian Springs were a mythological source of knowlege. My glass of technology has been small sips, at times a gulp, and never a satisfying drain the flagon.

Pencil and paper, a Remington typewriter, chalk on a blackboard, and ” purples” from the mimeograph machine solved all my written communication needs. Then at 40, I went back in the classroom to a job with 20 plus year old colleagues who had skills I lacked. I could use this new computer that had to be dialed up to make connection to create a document. That was it! I took an evening course to broaden my horizon and even earned a certificate for my permanent record. However, this was when one had to create one’s own programs. When I finished and hit RUN the message was usually ERROR, and I had to find where I had put a comma instead of a colon.

Forty-five years down the road, I do fairly well for my age. While many four year olds can’t match my skills, most ten year olds can or will experiment with more surety than I would. What knowledge I do have has been gained from mistakes corrected to up the learning curve. A heartfelt thanks to those have stood by my side or taken oven the keyboard to undo what I didn’t even know I did.

The above paragraphs are the explanation for this week’s thoughts. I came to writing a blog with thirty minute help from a kind friend and auto renewal for using Word Press as the platform – if that is the correct term. Specific vocabulary is also a problem. I can open, keyboard, save, and publish without really knowing all the various options in the several available menus. I have even inserted a picture, yet am not sure how I did it. I had a Thursday blog typed and ready and it vanished. When I tried to rewrite, the inner workings told me it was saved in outer space and by some means it could be restored. That was way beyond my skill set. Just so you know, my half year resolution is to go back to my 40’s and prepare for one more gulp. You may not be better off for my knowledge. I will. This expresses my feelings and my hope.

For now I (sic) see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know…

2 Corinthians 13: 12