A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I worked for the nation’s largest software-only reseller, Egghead Discount Software. Remember them? If you do, I know how old you are, and sadly, you likely know how old I am, too. If you have ever worked in retail, no matter how much you may have enjoyed your job, you might agree that, at times, retail can be one of the most draining, spirit-siphoning, temperament-torturing types of employment a person can ever endure. As a store manager, I loved what I did from day to day, loved the customers and loved being a part of the birth of the home computer industry. . What I didn’t love were the many work hours, nights, weekends and holidays that were required to prove my dedication and maintain my profit margins.
What finally did me in was the New Year’s Day when the company decided we needed to be open. Anyone who came into my store that day was really, really sorry that they did. After five years, I resigned. I was so burned out that I vowed I would never touch a computer again. I refused even to own an answering machine
(remember those?) , and I swore off the use of anything that required electricity, unless it was necessary to run basic household appliances.
Despite the subsequent revolution that swept the globe once somebody figured out how to monetize the Internet, I refused to take part. I just didn’t care WHAT the Internet could do for me, or how many things I could get for free, or that email was the next best thing to telepathy. It took me eight years to get another desktop computer, and it happened only because my brother bought one for me as a gift. Caught between showing proper appreciation and an uncontrollable shudder of revulsion, I found myself back in the modern world.
I had a great deal to learn. I had a lot of catching up to do. I discovered email newsletters, and signed up for anything that looked as though it might help me to learn everything I could about creating web sites, marketing and getting the most from the world wide web. Among the very first of these newsletters to which I subscribed was a publication called Site Pro News. It seemed to be a repository for all things Internet, and it seemed like a good place to begin my new millennium computer education. It didn’t take too long, though, before I realized Site Pro News was way over my head. The last thing I recalled about a home computer was using Word Perfect on a 386. If you remember those, you’re dating yourself again. I really did try to understand what everybody was so excited about, but my utter blase was really creating a barrier. Finally, I was forced to unsubscribe from Site Pro News, citing complete ignorance and a potential illiteracy that made me feel uneasy.
As is often the case for many who learn a new language, a new skill, build new relationships or who start life all over again, the journey can be grueling. It has taken over ten years of personal, professional and practical experience to feel that I can at last claim some expertise.
So, imagine my surprise when I accidentally discovered that one of my articles had just been published on Site
Pro News. The same publication that was too sophisticated for me ten years ago now has my name associated with it. The irony of this has me reeling. Proud, too, especially when I read the positive and generous bon mots of those who took the time to leave comments. It took ten years to come full circle. What a world.
Find it here: Why You Should Care about Web Site Accessibility ~ Site Pro News. tinyurl.com/ybnlzv2
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