This is Donna, sitting in front of her brand new computer. She found out that her alma mater, John Adams High School, had a website that would allow her to get in touch with her former classmates. That sounded like great fun, so off to the store she went, and now she owns it.
Donna has never owned or used a computer.
We’re in a café...
She takes a seat directly across from me and removes her new laptop from the Best Buy bag. A few moments to get the box open, and then she methodically places everything on the table: laptop, power adapter, mouse, mouse pad, and quick start manual.
Donna, bewildered, takes one look at my laptop and her eyes light up. “Oh! You have a Sony, and I have a Sony! Do you think you could teach me how to use mine?”
I had work to finish, but she was genuinely excited and I just couldn’t say no. For the next hour or so, I did my best to help Donna reconnect to the John Adams High School Class of ’61. After a seriously abridged explanation of computers, internet and WIFI, and a couple of failed log in attempts, we were in!
With the giddiness of a child, Donna begins browsing the faces of people she hasn’t seen in decades. Then I hear “Yuck! This guy thought he was so cool because he could drive his dad’s car…”
And just like that, Donna was 16 - all over again.
From the John Adams website, the Beatles tune “When I’m Sixty-Four” begins to play. Donna says, “I always liked that song. I think it’s their best...”
I asked Donna if could make her photograph.
Without looking up from her screen “This face? Go right ahead…”
Carry on, Donna.