My First Internet Memories Are A Mixed Bag of Emotions

Contact has been made

How do I describe my first Internet experiences? They were unique and opened the world to me. Logging on for online access seemed magical and mystical when I first used the Web in the late 1990s.

The startup sound that connected my modem to unseen and unknown people around the world was amazing. Placing my rotary dial telephone receiver into the cradle and hearing the startup sound gave me a feeling of "Touchdown" or "Contact." When I hear the tone today, it is nostalgic music to my ears, and I become misty-eyed.

Growing up in the late 1960s, children had to use their imaginations and played a lot of pretend games. This led to my always anticipating something spectacular. These emotions did not leave me as an adult.

The dial-up noise made me feel as if I were connecting to outer space or another universe where I knew not what awaited me. I had a similar feeling when I was a child and would watch the static snow on the television screen.

This conjured up images of aliens and otherworldly creatures trying to communicate with me. Pondering the unknown and creating my own scenarios was fun.

You've Got Mail

The same thing happened when I listened to static on my walkie-talkies and picked up radio stations or heard other people's conversations. Placing my phone receiver in the slot and awaiting that beloved sound that connected me to the Internet always gave me goosebumps.

I had an old-fashioned desktop computer with a monitor that I shared with my husband and children. I was fascinated by AOL email and loved hearing "You've got mail." I was always excited to get that message.

The World Wide Web was relatively new, and I could never have imagined it would be as vast as it is today. The computer was on a table in a corner of the living room.

When I sat in the chair, it felt like I was in a different world. My cup of coffee was to my left, and the floor model television was to my right. Who could ask for anything more?

An embarrassing situation

My screen name was Highpraiser, and I enjoyed the various AOL chatrooms that I visited. Meeting new people from around the world was amazing. I am, however, embarrassed about one thing that I did during that time.

This challenge brought back a long-buried memory that I will share. As I visited the different AOL chatrooms, I entered several Lesbian chatrooms and posted "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve."

The culture in which I was raised led me to believe that by sharing that quote, someone would ponder it and change. I recall one woman posting in a group that Highpraiser is going into all the chatrooms, posting against being lesbian. That's when I became ashamed of my actions.

I now know that what I did was wrong. I am sorry if I offended anyone. I have grown and matured over the past three decades and realize everyone has a right to be who they are without others trying to change them.

Change does not erase memories

The Internet and desktop computers have evolved over the decades: "You Got Mail," the dial-up sound, the static on old televisions, and rotary phones are relics of the past. They live on, however, in the memories of those of us who utilized them.

The same way my attitude has changed toward those who love differently, I have adapted to cell phones, laptops, Smart TVs, and tablets. Children today have their own phones and no longer need walkie-talkies.

I look back fondly and wistfully, however, on sharing a family desktop computer, the dial-up sound, static on TVs, rotary dial telephones, and "You Got Mail" because they were all involved in my first Internet experience.