About ten years ago my husband Charlie and I were discussing computers with a neighbor who told us about a computer club in town that had basic classes for older citizens, with personal attention given to each member. We decided to check it out, partly from curiosity and partly from the feeling it was time we gave thought to joining the computer age. (Both my brothers were computer buffs who'd been after me to get at it.)

We joined at the beginning of the next class, knowing so little that we were surprised to find there were three parts to the computer; we'd thought the monitor and keyboard were it. And I was fascinated at all we were shown and told that day and in the weeks that followed. Charlie was not eager, but willing to make the purchase of a PC, so we settled on an e-machine at Walmart, it being the least expensive. I remember we bought it at Thanksgiving time; it was our Christmas gift to each other. I got the best of that deal! When the next class began at the club we joined and took it all over again. I still remember, when we found we could look things up on the internet, we chose "statue on dome of United States Capitol." and were amazed to be given a full description with history. That was our first foray into the vast storehouse of knowledge at our fingertips. I can truly say that the club taught me enough that I feel comfortable sitting here typing letters, downloading photos from our camera, shopping our local stores and stores around the country, reading newspapers (I have read that newspapers in a short time will be published only on the internet and there will be a charge for reading them), and all the other tasks this computer can handle.

Six years ago we left Cottonwood and settled in Blue Ridge, GA, a town similar in size to Cottonwood. I was disappointed to find no computer club there so we continued our membership in the club, and continued to enjoy each issue of the news letter. And now and then when I was completely stumped by a problem I wrote an SOS to one of your most knowledgeable members who never failed to get me out of whatever mess I'd gotten myself into. (Charlie had long since given up interest in anything but playing games on the computer.) I do not have the tech blood that my dad gave my brothers; only my love of music forced me to put a high fidelity system together and only my deep interest in what the computer could give me has forced me to tackle this apparatus that I called "Monster" for a year or two.

We left our Encyclopedia Britannica at the recycling center when we left Cottonwood; Charlie checked later that day and it was gone, to a good home, we hope; no organization had wanted it. I have our large atlas and dictionary but seldom need to refer to them. Nearly everything we need to know is right here via the keyboard. While in Blue Ridge, we upgraded to a used Dell computer, which has been for the most part a delight. Our old e-machine is in another room and Charlie still plays games on it.

I hope you fellow members of the Verde Valley Computer Club will think about your good fortune in having it right there in town, where you can meet on a regular basis, ask your questions and have an expert answer them on the spot, meet fellow 'computerers' (did I just coin a word?) not to mention all the Special Interest Groups available to you. And that wonderful potluck feast each year! Charlie misses that too! As for me, at eighty-six I don't know how long it can be, but as long as possible I'll be continuing our membership in your Verde Valley Computer Club.

Thank you, VVCC, for being there.

Ruth Gaeta