Computing with Bifocals - Nancy's Mac Story Contest Winners
by - May 12th, 2004

In my last column I invited TMO readers, over the age of 50, to submit their personal stories of their introduction to the Mac and the impact the Mac had on their lives.  I got some great responses.  The youngest respondent just turned 51 and the oldest is 87.

There are two winners and 16 runners-up. Three of the runners-up will also receive TMO shirts.  These three lucky individuals were chosen by random drawing and all have been contacted by e-mail to get their mailing address and shirt size (see their names at the end of the column). I hope you will enjoy reading some of these stories and I greatly appreciate everyone who took the time and effort to write.

The two winners have had major life changes because a Macintosh computer became part of their lives; here are their stories.

The first is from Scott Clausen:

I'm 52 as of 22 March. I've used Macs since July of 1986. This is how it came about.

In July of 1986 I was a Naval Officer stationed in Norfolk, VA. I had been a PC user and was getting ready to buy the latest IBM product. On a Wednesday night I was driving home and saw the sign for an Apple store. On a whim I stopped to look at the Macs. About three hours later I left with a Mac Plus and an Imagewriter II. I was absolutely amazed at what could be done.

In March of 1989 I traded up to an SE/30 prior to heading to Stuttgart Germany for duty. While there I found that the post exchange sold Macs. I repeatedly went to the exchange to have the Mac rep answer some technical questions. Unfortunately he was not much help but did say that his boss would be able to take care of my questions. She stopped into the exchange from time to time and he said I should come in and see her.

In March of 1990 we finally met. To make a long story short we were married in November 1991. Upon returning to the states she worked for a Swiss company in San Francisco that sold Macs. Upon my retirement we moved to the Puget Sound area. I taught teachers and staff of a school district Mac computers, and for a private Mac-based company. Nell worked for an Apple reseller. Upon the loss of the contract, Nell was hired by Apple. She worked for them until August of 2003 when we moved to our dream area on the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

In the house today we have a G4, Titanium PowerBook, Power Mac 8500, Mac SE/30, and a Mac 128k. Later this year we will add a G5.

The second winner is 55 year old Patti Van Tine.  Patti's submission was long, so I have had to edit it quite a bit to cover all the pertinent details.  Patti wrote:

I got my first Mac while I was in grad school and it was truly a relief to say good bye to my Amiga, and welcome that cute little happy Mac face every time I turned on the machine.  In fact, I wrote my entire thesis using a Power Mac 8500 and never had a problem with it.  [Patti is an R.N.]

In 1996 my love for Macs took on an entirely new meaning as I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.  I was single, had little family left (both parents had passed away) and my brother and sister weren't available at that time, so I felt alone in a way I'd never experienced before.  

I had many dear friends who cared, but they really didn't know what to say or how to help me, so I got on the Internet and began to learn everything I could about this disease  that was so changing my life.  I eventually found a wonderful group of fellow "MS-ers" and it was this wonderful group of folks who literally took me under their wings and walked me through the process of shock, loss and finally "learning to live again".

Eventually, through a list-serve group to which she belonged, Patti learned of a job opening at her local community college. The college was searching for someone to teach Mac classes.  She was hired to teach "Introduction to the Mac" and "Introduction to the Internet."

I taught one class in which a couple of senior citizens signed up, and the next thing I knew they began to invite all their friends and the class began to fill with folks in their 70's and 80's!  I took them on "cyber-shopping" trips and vacations and they were as excited as little kids when I taught them how to embed sound and graphic files in their e-mails. I look fondly on that time as I realized how my "hobby" had turned into a paying job that opened new worlds for people!!

I am no longer teaching due to State cutbacks here in California, and now teach nurses 2 days a week, but I still find great joy working on the side as owner of "Class Act Consulting," a business in which I work with folks who are (or think they are!) "computer illiterate."   I've also helped folks that have chronic illnesses that keep them housebound, and it's such a joy to see them discover the wonderful world of online communications.  You might say I'm a "personal shopper" as I walk with them through both the purchase, setup and then teach them to "do it on their own"....  I love working myself out of a job!

There are lots more stories to share.  There is Jack Russell from California who talks about how his Mac plays nice with Wintel, and 70 year old Bob Poland from Colorado who created a BASIC program on an Apple II.  Then there is Steve Weinstock from New Jersey who showed a whole school of teachers and administrators how to publish a school year book for $60.  We have Clarence Brown who is 87 and has his first computer.  There is a letter from a retired Dean of Engineering and MIT instructor, one from Hawaii, one from......  Well more of these very interesting stories in my next column.

The winners of the shirts in the random drawing are:  Bill Paris from Santa Rosa, California; Alvin Moser from Mesa, Arizona; and Joe Reed from Midland, Texas.

---

Copies of Nancy's book Tips, Hints, and Solutions for Seasoned Beginners Using Apple Macintosh Computers With OS X are available in PDF download versions  for US$9.57 and in print version for $18.15 plus $4.00 shipping.   To view sample pages and get ordering information visit the September 14, 2004 column.

---

Post your comments below.

Check out Nancy's complete index of all her columns for the most complete list of tips anywhere. The list is categorized and is a great reference when you are looking for help! A Capacious Catalog Of Computer Tips

Talking to a generation that remembers what the world was like before there was color, covers issues for people who don't care how their computer works, but rather what their computer and the internet can do for them.

Nancy has a Master's degree in Human Services Administration and prior to her retirement she worked for almost 30 years in field of mental health and mental retardation. She has been a Mac user for 11 years, and has recently developed an avocation of teaching basic computer skills in both group and one-to-one settings.

---

Most Recent Computing With Bifocals Columns

• Of iPod Cases and System Preferences - August 30th
• Cool Tips, Kudos for Bob, & a Review - July 31st
• Two Apps for Reading and Browsing - June 23rd

Other "Computing With Bifocals" Columns