About a month ago I said that a new era had begun because our oldest son brought over a new computer (a teeny-tiny one) equipped with Windows 11 to replace the Hewlett-Packard All-In-One I had been using that was equipped with Windows 10. Microsoft had informed me that it was ending support for Windows 10 on October something-or-other and after running some diagnostics also told me that my HP could not be upgraded to Windows 11.
Remember?
Well, forget all of that. After just a couple of weeks of learning to use Windows 11 with my new teeny-tiny GEMTEK from Taiwan, the computer apparently gave up the ghost (technical explanation: BIOS couldn't find the hard drive for reasons unknown to me).
So my son took the GEMTEK back and I am once again using Windows 10 on my HP, which I had not disposed of but put in an inconspicuous corner of the bedroom awaiting ultimate disposition. I'm so glad I did that. Apparently there was an uproar among users of Windows 10, who make up over 50% of Microsoft's customers and of that portion over 25% could not upgrade, enough of an uproar that Microsoft decided to offer a free one-year extension of its support of Windows 10. All my son had to do was push a key or two to accept the extension and I'm good to go. Apparently. God willing and the creeks/Creeks don't rise.
In other words, if I had done nothing, I would have remained in good shape without all the stress and strain of the past month trying to adjust to Windows 11. My son suggested I go with Macintosh but I am an old dog who resists new tricks for the most part.
If you ask me, it's proof in our own day that the French are right: Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (The more things change, the more they remain the same).
For some reason I cannot begin to fathom, the whole experience brought to mind the song "Try To Remember" from The Fantasticks, a 1960 off-Broadway production:
Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
And follow.
(end of song)
My trivia-soaked mind reminds me that Jerry Orbach of Law And Order fame was the first performer ever to sing that song in the original off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks in 1960. My mind is beginning to fail me, however, because I also remember actor Jack Palance reciting the lyrics but can't remember whether he did it on The Merv Griffin Show or The Jack Paar Show. Also, a pretty lade with blond hair (that really narrows it down) sang the song on television way back when but I cannot recall her name. She later worked as an actress on one of the afternoon soap operas, either General Hospital or As The World Turns or All My Children. I told you my mind was going.
I must try to remember and follow it.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
This is definitely one of the weirdest posts I have ever written, if I do say so myself.
Do not call the men in the white coats just yet, as I have an awful lot of living left to do.
I've just gone through the same experience with windows 10 and 11.
ReplyDeleteYou and I and millions of others. Don’t you just hate the planned obsolescence of the computer industry and the automobile industry and the cellphone industry and the.. anyway, thank you Red!
ReplyDeleteI love that song - sad and sweet.
ReplyDeleteIt’s one of my favorites. Thank you, Janice!
DeleteAnd this too shall pass. I have no idea why but the phrase popped into my little brain as I read this.
ReplyDeleteSome days that phrase gives me the strength to go on. Thank you, Emma!
DeleteI know you are joking but I really hope your mind never goes. What a tragedy it is when that happens
ReplyDeleteOur children tell both of us frequently how remarkable we are and how well we are doing compared to their friends’ parents. My grandfather lived to be almost 96 and was clear as a bell until the end. He has always been my hero and I hope to be like him, only older. Thank you, kylie.
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