Twenty Years of Attitude

[Quixotoes (Ted)]

I am an addict.

 

An internet addict. It started 20 years ago, on July 28, 1994, when I signed on to AOL, and like everyone else reading this, started searching for the one five-letter word that defines our interest.

 

After a year of intense stimulation (social, intellectual and creative, of course) I started wondering, “how long can this last?” Well, when AOL finally became free, and cyberspace opened up, the answer became clear. At least 20 years. Maybe forever.

 

Every free moment was spent chatting, arguing and playing with all number and manner of people who I never would have encountered in what we call “real life.” In fact, “real life” and the quotidian merged for many of us. These people, some perhaps imaginary friends, but others whom I have seen and touched with my own eyes and hands, are as much a part of me as my own family. Most have drifted away, some gave up the kink (at least publicly), a few have died. Only one relationship fell apart, and the reasons were mutual, but the memories are the best.

 

I don’t travel much anymore, but I remain an internet addict with, as Gordon Lightfoot put it, “a million daydreams to keep me satisfied,” and a store of experiences that, believe it or not, kept me sane all these years. As I contemplate aging, the thing I fear more than a broken right hand is memory loss.

 

For now, I remain as cranky and spanky as ever, and whether you like it or not, thank you for being part of my life.

 

Ted  http://quixotoes.blogspot.com  quix...@aol.com quix...@yahoo.com

[Ritch Flynn]

Thank you for being part of our lives, Ted.

[mccgra...@gmail.com]

Wow! you can actually remember the first time you logged onto aol that is very impressive to me... I can't remember the date because I have a terrible time with numbers and remembering them. But I do remember what I did the first time I logged onto aol. LOL and found that chat room stunned to see that I was not alone in  feelings for the wonderous word you skipped around. LOL I sat glued to a computer screen for HOURS that day well into the night just watching people talk trying to make sence of what I was reading. unmistakably confused and very over stimulated with what I was seeing. I too have been hooked ever since reading that tiny little box of words  While I have lurked for years now in the background I have have not given up reading and even writing somethings. My writing improving over the course of time that I read as I learned how to speak and spell better and form better phrases by watching others speak. So I can understand how you feelTed and can say that I too thank you for being a cranky spanky part of my life even if it is a lurky part on my own side. (so spank me for it;) LOL  Any how congratulations on reaching your milestone!
Mary aka gemladi from aol days then as lil_mary and finally known now as mary_Richards in the online world

On Monday, July 28, 2014 1:04:21 PM UTC-4, Quixotoes (Ted) wrote: