We live in the age of technology. I know that there have been other generations that have felt that they have seen much advancement in technology in their life time, but I think ours is truly the technological age. I am in my late forties and when I was in high school computers were futuristic pieces of equipment that took up entire buildings. It was during Bill Clinton's presidency when the words describing a super highway of information were first used. When he talked about the internet and communicating with people around the world through this system I could not imagine that I would experience this in my life time. Today I communicate with people from all over the United States and internationally on a regular basis, and I am basically computer illiterate.



Seven years ago I did not know how to turn a computer on. Today I use a computer to complete about thirty percent of my work and more than three fourths of my communications with others. I now have a software address book instead of a rolodex at work and leather bound book at home. I cannot believe how easy it is to stay in touch with people. My software address book is so handy and easy to use. You can put in as much or as little data as you choose. For my close friends and relatives I load up my software address book with email addresses, home phone numbers, cell numbers, postal addresses, birthdates, and even anniversary dates. I purchased the software that will send me email reminders when it is someone's birthday or anniversary. This is so much easier than my old system. I used to write people's important days on my calendar at home. Each year I would transfer the information to the new calendar. More often than not I would forget to check the calendar on a regular basis and people's days would come and go and I would forget them, even though I did have them written down. Now I do not have to worry about this because I am emailed a reminder. It does take some time to set up your system, but not much longer than it takes to write everything on a calendar or in an address book.

The other convenience I use when it comes to special days is sending e-cards. I try to go into the sight once a month and find and write personal messages for everyone that is having a special day that month. I then post date them to be sent the day before or the day of the event. This saves on postage as well as shopping for the cards. I can also do this as soon as I remember so there is less of a chance that I will put it off too long.