Taking the learning curve without crashing
By Alex Carrier

Just when you think you have a grip on life (I’d settle for just getting a grip on myself but that is another blog) reality rolls you over. Nothing is more likely to wipe you out than trying to learn something new while everyone is watching.

Come on, you’ve been there. The sweaty palms, the heaving stomach, the heart beating out of your chest like some cartoon character.

Childhood is the worst because there are just so many firsts: first time speaking in front of the class, reading out loud, first time dancing, kissing…. As adults, we long to rest on our laurels and never face those psychologically perilous moments again. As if.

Life is a long learning curve and we are all bad drivers. Sometimes we just get a warning, sometimes a ticket. If we are really lucky, we only crash and burn a few times in a lifetime.

The worst part is all the rubberneckers. E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y is watching, especially those who will cause us the most embarrassment.

Even our friends can’t help themselves. They want the best for us but they are equally observant when we take the checkered flag and when we hit the wall. (Yes, I have been watching way too much NASCAR but you gotta’ love a sport where a competitor crosses the finish line upside down.)

If you recently checked my website (http://www.vgreene.com/) you may have read an article on my friend Ann Mullen. Ann, a popular local mystery writer, is finally able to bring her fourth book out to the public but not without a litany of missteps, mishaps, and mayhem.

The road ahead was clear. Yeah, like that is gonna’ happen.

She just traded one bad trip for another. (She is also my source for the term tripping with no luggage – but that is also another blog.)

Being a bit of a *ahem* control freak (aren’t we all), she decided to take over her website. Learning curve ahead.

Well, to be honest, who can better express you – than you? So, she took on the task of learning the program her webmaster used to create and maintain the site. Suggested speed limit – slow.

Ann is smart and mechanically inclined. She took classes. She prepared. She accepted learned assistance. Apply brakes now.

She made the changes. She made the site more personal. She was pleased with the results. Prepare for skid.

She loaded the page to the web. Crash and Burn.

If you care to rubberneck, check http://www.aftonridge.com/.

I believe the damage is minor and mechanics (and Ann) are smoothing out the dents and dings, applying new paint and getting her back on the road. She’ll be running smoothly in no time.

I remember a friend of mine who owned a very expensive sports car and constantly grumbled. “This car comes with 2 seats: 1 for the driver and 1 for the mechanic.”

Life should be so easy.

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