I refused to even look at the Internet until a school assignment, at age 24, forced me to. Before then, I just played dumb. I refused to even try to internalize phrases like .com, URL, www, http, and search engine. I didn't care! Once I was introduced, I thought the Internet was mildly interesting, at best.
I still don't use a cell phone. I have one, but I usually have it thrown in my car or under a couch cushion with a dead battery. I HATE the phone. The last thing I need is one that follows me around like a creepy stalker. If you need me, you can wait. Isn't that what we used to do, in the olden days. Cell phones bug me.
I do use the computer now, obviously, but I never used it with any regularity until I moved here. When I started working at home, everything was done by computer and I was suddenly grateful for technology. I can sit at home and work in my spare time, no driving and no leaving my kids behind. That is pretty cool. I eventually warmed up to e-mail as well, and now it is the best way to get a hold of me. I swore I would never get trapped in Myspace or Facebook or blogging though. I like to hide and that would leave me too easily accessible.
The blogging finally got me. The others are still my sworn enemies. I have heard that Facebook eats time, and I am also not interested in talking to people I haven't heard from in 20 years. I don't mean that in a mean way. Sure, it would be fun to see how everyone looks and how they are all doing, but I am socially inept and I don't want or need to be found. It is awkward for me to run into someone I haven't seen in two weeks, I can't imagine how awful it would be after a zillion years. I am best left in hiding.
Even though several people have tried to coerce me in to joining Facebook, I have stood my ground. I get invites in my e-mail sometimes and have to ignore them because I don't want to join so that I can look at people's profiles. If you have ever invited me, just know that I accept your offer of friendship, I just can't play with you because Facebook is a members only playground. Maybe one day I will pay my dues and meet you by the swings, but for now I am still hiding.
Or I was.
Until this morning when I checked my e-mail. My sister had sent a picture of me, this picture.
She wrote, "look at what I found on someones Facebook page", followed by a long line of "ha,ha,ha,ha,ha"...because me and Valerie are the last two people on earth who refuse to adopt text speak so we still use "ha,ha" instead of "laugh out loud". I won't abbreviate it, you can't make me.
Okay friends, this picture is of me at cheer camp during the summer of 1991. I don't even think that I still have a copy of that picture. I never was fond of that picture, although back then I did like my hair like that, two toned scrunchie and all. Upon seeing this picture today my ears started to burn, butterflies hatched by the truckload in my stomach, and my knees were even wobbly when I stood up.
I wondered who on earth would still have that picture? Who even had it in the first place? I only had about a dozen copies. And more importantly...WHY would anyone care to put that on the Internet?
Turns out it was just an old neighbor. I am still laughing that she has that picture, and still queasy that she subjected everyone to it again, almost 20 years later. The good news is that Chloe looked at it and said "that's mommy", without even a seconds hesitation or consideration. She recognized me. I was feeling bad about the "is your baby in college" comment already. Then I ordered some clothes for the girls and my b-day was printed on the receipt. I am thinking that the woman I ordered from just guessed a birthday when she realized I hadn't filled in all the required fields. Her guess? Jan 1, 1930. So now I'm 80? But Chloe recognized me at 15. I feel better about that.
And now Alex just walked in and said, "I didn't know you were a chee-wo mom". I don't know if he was calling me a cheerleader or a cheerio and I don't care. He recognized me too.
So, if I have to accept that embarrassing old pictures of me are floating around in cyberspace, then I might as well post them myself and be embarrassed on my own terms.
But now I DO remember why I HATE technology. You really can find ANYTHING.
15 comments:
I love the internet but that's about where it ends for me. I hate the cell phone too. Doug and I used to share one but over the summer when I was gone he decided (with some help from friends I think) that we needed two. He wanted an Iphone so he got one and got me a new one that I hate.
I would have rather kept the one we've had since we moved here (the first cell phone I ever owned).. this new one I have no idea how to work and half the time I forget it at home too.
I do have a facebook account but besides updating my status occasionally I pretty much just go on it and see what everyone else puts out there. Pretty often I feel like it's a waste of time so don't feel too bad. I think that would kind of freak me out to find a picture of me on someone else's facebook page when there is noone else in the picture with me.
love the cheer picture. You look as gorgeous as you do right now.
I agree that Facebook can be a huge waste of time. But now that I have no children at home, it is unfortunately a way I can somewhat keep posted on what my children are doing. So I am on Facebook. And I post status updates there that are annoying. And if I need a quick answer to a silly question, it's amazing how many people know something about it. But there is nothing anywhere that says you HAVE to have a Facebook account. Like the Internet, when it becomes mandatory, you'll get it, right?
(Cute picture, by the way!)
I feel the exact same way about cell phones. I have one, but I don't give out the number. I like to have it in case I need it, not because I want people to be able to get ahold of me at any time. And I agree about facebook, too. I cannot get on board with that one. I don't want to be found.
Now about that picture . . . I thought you were shy! I had no idea that you were a cheerleader in High School. I never would have guessed it. Are you sure you're shy? =D
On a sidenote, it is a very cute picture, two toned scrunchy and all.
I LOVE your pic. and FB :)
Ok straight out I LOVE that picture. I am still giggling just for the fact that we all look back at those pictures and remember when we felt so in and cool. I know I did and now I look at them and think what a dork. You look much cuter than I ever did though.
Since Josh and Sally are moving up north there this summer, how far away is detroit from Chicago? We could do a get together up there somewhere sometime. That would be a blast. Our kids would have the time of their lives.
Love the pic! LOL! BTW. :). etc. etc. I don't even know what some of the abbreviations even mean! But--you say you can barely let your kids out of your sight. So what happens if there's an emergency at school and you are happily at the park with NO cell phone? What happens when you get home hours later to frantic messages on your machine? Out here, where distances are long and lonely, a cell phone can be a literal life saver. And texting? If I text someone, they can look at the message whenever they want, and then replay if and when they want. I'd rather have a text than a voice mail that I have to listen to. Facebook? Well, I got an account to find my old high school reunion. And it worked! Our bishop is on--he says it's a great way to keep up with what's going on with the youth--without them knowing because they forget he's reading whatever they write! For the most part, he's been pleased with what he finds, but says that occasionally he finds something that is disturbing to him. And then he can deal with those problems confidentially if the kids choose. But I also don't check my facebook more than a few times a month. But I agree that some people spend too much time on the social networks. Here again, we are given choices, and one of them is how we spend our time. One thing I do love though is posting to my blog from my phone. I can post pics when I take them, not sometime later when I remember to do it. Anyway, I do believe that technology is given to us to use wisely, and that's the operative term, wisely.
Cheryl, the internet has grown on me...obviously. I am still mostly computer illiterate though.
LeShel, too nice to me...as always!
Julie, I have thought about doing Facebook just to keep up with my little brother and a few of my blogging friends who have quit blogging. I just can't bring myself to do it though.
Catherine, I am definitely shy. I did drama and cheer, weird, I know. But I have an alter ego that comes out to cover my shyness when necessary. She talks too much and too loud and is thoroughly obnoxious. Be glad you remember my shy side.
Kory, Detroit is about 6 hours from us. We must make plans! I also really want to make it out to DC sometime. It has definitely been too long. Those birthday pictures of Logan today almost had me in tears.
Ann, the real reason that I have a cell phone is because I have kids in school. I do carry it during school hours. I don't answer it though or talk while driving, shopping, playing at the park, etc., It is for emergencies. Talking on the phone is overrated anyway. I did learn to send a text recently though. Usually if I get a text I don't see it until weeks later though and so my responses are invalid. Most people don't have my cell phone number, which is intentional. I completely agree that technology is given to us to use wisely. It is a bit of a double edged sword though, and we have taken it too far. Alyssa has begged for a cell phone because all of her friends have one. At 7! Where do they have to go and who do they need to get in touch with? Too young! Just like medicine is a gift but the more advanced medicine becomes, the more peope abuse it.
Weak knees from that hot picture? You look amazing, girl!! Be proud!
I love my cell phone because I LOVE talking on the phone (just got a cell phone ticket though).
I also love face book cause you can just look at pics of your family or buds without having to say too much. I also like catching up with all of the people I knew back in the day and seeing what their kids look like and stuff. It is also a good way to get the word out for certain things. I wanted a treadmill, posted a note on facebook to see if anyone wanted to get rid of one, and then two days later I scored a treadmill. I use it to make plans with friends, communicate with my co-teacher, all kinds of stuff. Some people post annoying things all day or put up how many chickens they have in their virtual farm, but I just learned how to block all of that stuff.
Once again I find that I'm exactly the opposite as you because I love technology and have always embraced any new gadget put out there. I'm still sad that iPhone is only available to AT&T users and that I signed my life away with the devil (Sprint) years ago. If it's electronic and claims to make life easier, then I want it. As soon as the internet breathed it's first breath I was out there experimenting with it and figuring out how to make my own web page. I also had a Commodore 64 (one of the 1st personal computers available to the general public). I guess you could say I was (and will always be) a big tech nerd.
BTW, you were and still are one hot (ssss, finger on my butt) babe. I'm not surprised that your kids immediately recognized you because the only that's changed is your hair color.
I'm a Flintstone myself, but the Internet is good for us hiders. I have a cell phone that I never use UNLESS traveling. I could give up my phone-landline too- in a heartbeat. I can't live without my computer. It's my encyclopedia. I love the picture by the way. I didn't get a chance to comment, but your girls looked so darling in their Easter dresses.
Katelin, I think the weak knees were mostly from paranoia. How creepy to find a picture of me out there, and like Cheryl said, even more creepy that I was the only one in the picture. Although I have always thought that I looked like the Cheshire Cat in that picture.
Val, you didn't mention the cell phone ticket. That stinks! There are a few people I like to talk to on the phone (if you didn't figure that out from our 6 hour chats) but I don't like to talk when I am out doing something else. And really, why does anyone care to collect and then discuss virtual chickens? I guess everyone's gotta have a hobby though.
Jen, Why are we even friends? Just kidding! There are a few techy things I would like to learn, but mostly I am happy in my cave. I learned how to upload pictures and post to the blog and that is all I really need. Although, I used my cell phone yesterday to call you so I am moving towards the 21st century.
Erin, I admit to using the internet as my go to encyclopedia these days too. It has grown on me and I have even slightly warmed to the phone, only slightly.
Like you, I am also content being in my own little shell, away from the world. But that is why I actually like FB. I dont have to physically go out and talk to these people in person and try to carry a conversation. Its a good way to get to know people without having to put myself out there. If I want to comment I will, otherwise I can just scroll past it. No pressure, no awkward pauses or boring conversations. It also gives me time to analyze a good response, rather than say something on a whim that I will regret later on. I do need some social activity or I get depressed, and it is a great way for me to get it outside of the realm of 3 and 5 year olds. And I dont have to be friends with anyone I dont want, like that creepy stalker guy from HS. I can just ignore them. Thats much easier in Cyber Space! I hesitated about getting a blog and a FB account for a long time, but now Im really glad I did because its a great social outlet for someone like me who doesnt get out much. Sorry its long...just something to think about!
And the picture does still look like you, and your definately NOT 80! I can see a lot of Alissa in that pic. Its very impressive that you still look just as good as you did then.
I think you look pretty cute! And facebook is the devil!
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