One of my favorite anecdotes from the mid 1980's is the one that first connected me to the idea of graduating from typewriter to computer.  Eldest son was visiting, a graduate in computer science from University of CA, Irvine.  I had just purchased a new state-of-the-art typewriter.  Appraising it, Son said, "Mom, a computer would be so much faster."  His father, a graduate engineer, barked, "Those computers are just a fad!" 

Needless to say, I sold the typrwriter and used that as a down payment on my first computer.  Yesterday morning, searching for a market for a senior-appeal market, I checked a new  list that "welcomes on-line submissions."  In fewer than ten minutes, I had addressed an e-mail to the editor of Mature Years magazine and pasted my essay, "Rabbit's Flight" (re: a personal experience of serving as a senior volunteer at a pre-school) into the e-mail.   Within an hour I had a response–no, not an acceptance–but an e-mail saying "Thank you for this submission to Mature Years magazine."  Snail mail submissions were never as swift or convenient.  I immediately printed this response and it, with the copy of my submission, goes into a file folder.  Of course the original of the essay is also stored in my computer.  So much for "fads."

Have I said before?  Yes, paper storage takes space, but as magical as computers are, the "screaming woes" from colleagues, "My computer failed and I lost everything!" keep me saving copies in paper files.  Until tomorrow, Willma