Computers were a luxury once upon a time. A magic machine that did things that were so so unimaginable.
My father bought the first computer home when I was 12 years old. I remember him carrying all the way from the store back home. When he reached home he was all sweaty and exhausted. I remember seeing the smile on his face. My sister and I never asked for it but that he got it for us made is even more special.
My father connected it and switched it on. It took quite sometime to boot. The screen opened to Windows 2000 which at that time was a big leap from the earlier Windows 98. I remember the Viewsonic monitor with the little birds logo at the corner of the screen. Always thought it was lovebirds guess they were actually something else.
The computer was so bulky back then. The CPU was a huge box of metal and the heat it emitted was something else. The monitor took up half the study table. We bought a computer table because there was no space for the keyboard and the mouse. All of which was wired to the back of the CPU. Oh and the mouse! there was a trackball for the mouse. We had to regularly open the mouse up and clean the dust off for the mouse to keep scrolling properly. The keyboard was so hard each key was like a stone against the fingers.
I remember the time it took to download a single music file. Watching a video was out of the question I doubt that Youtube was even launched. They are such vague memories. I really can’t believe it those memories have become so insignificant but for my child heart they were so important.
We were so mesmerized by the machine. We did have computers at our school but to have one at home was absolutely the best. My father may not have provide the luxuries in life but he give me everything I need sometimes at the cost of his own happiness. My mother loved watching her children adore their father.
I don’t remember much about the computer as such but I remember the memories associated with it. At that age I may not have appreciated what was done for me but I am glad that I realize it now. I am extremely grateful to my parents for teaching me the value of hard work. It has allowed me to truly understand the sacrifice they have made for me over the years.
Word Hues 