The Blue Desk Chair

It was a cold Saturday morning seven years ago in Northern California. Our family, including three children and one lazy golden retriever, were watching the home-shopping network on television.

"Why?" you might ask? Good question. But as it was, there we were cuddled up on the couch, eyes fixed on the TV. The announcer said to "stay tuned." Coming up next was their "computer extravaganza." We listened to the used-car-salesman like pitch and we were hooked. We decided we just had to have a personal home computer.

As the week waned on, the kids anxiously awaited the arrival of our new PC. Their excitement was audible as the UPS truck pulled up to our house and the driver unloaded the boxes. Our son, Ryan, who was 15 at the time, opened the boxes and began working like a pro while the girls watched on impatiently.

Within a couple of hours, much to our amazement, he had the computer up and running. The girls sat on the floor waiting their turns and not so quietly I might add. Ryan muttered and moaned that he was the only one of us who knew how to use a computer and I honestly had to agree.

My husband and I knew absolutely nothing about our new purchase. So Ryan became the main user. He spent hour after hour in the blue desk chair typing and working away on the computer. I was beginning to become worried about the amount of time he spent on it, but little did I know he was teaching himself all of the endless details of operating the PC on and off line.

He bought books and met other kids on the World Wide Web and learned from them. I have since found out that this is the way many teenagers learn: from strangers they meet on- line. I could go into the dangers of talking to strangers in cyberspace, but Ryan was a responsible kid and I trusted him. And learn he did.

Once he purchased a book called "Learn Computer Programming in 30 Days." I asked him later if he taught himself to program the computer in a month? He replied, with somewhat of a smirk on his face, "No mom. I learned in a week." He and I laughed at his arrogance, but he then said, "Mom, I don't think you realize just how much I know about computers." No I didn't but I was soon to find out.

Quickly it became rather amusing to answer our front door and have a neighbor or two asking if Ryan was home. These were grown adults but I must admit I was at times tempted to say, "No, Ryan can't play right now." But these adults, twice or more his age, were coming to ask Ryan computer questions and began paying him to work on their PC's!

We moved to Southern California when Ryan was in the twelfth grade. He continued to spend countless hours in the blue desk chair working on the computer. I would occasionally walk by and take a peek at the monitor. I would ask him what he was doing and he would just casually say, "Learning stuff Mom, just learning."

I now remember seeing on the screen what appeared to be strange symbols that looked like what I have since seen in the movie, "The Matrix." I worried that my son had become a "hacker." After all, I too had seen the 1980's movie, "War Games." But the FBI never broke down our door and confiscated his computer. So I figured we were safe.

Ryan graduated from high school and we desperately persuaded him to take computer classes at the local Community College. He reluctantly attended one class and quit. He said he "knew more than the teacher." My husband and I had become somewhat used to his arrogance when it came to the computer, so we just shook our heads.

Ryan spent the next year after high school sitting in the blue desk chair in front of the computer, typing away and doing only God knows what. I was becoming very worried that his computer use was bordering on obsession. Little did I know that this obsession was to become his for life. AND in a positive sense of the word!

One weekend we met some acquaintances for dinner and afterwards they came to our home. Ryan headed straight for the blue desk chair and began 'working' on his computer. Purely by fate, one of the men we had just had dinner with worked in the computer industry. He struck up a conversation with Ryan and the two of them continued to speak computer language for quite some time.

He too was amazed at all Ryan knew about computers and told him he would set up an interview for him at the company he worked for the following week. Ryan was excited but a little apprehensive at the same time. Could he 'cut it' in the real world of computers with the 'big boys?'

The phone call came a few days later and I could hear Ryan talking to someone regarding a job. Much to my horror, at the end of the conversation I heard Ryan say, "Well the job sounds great but my car is not running right now, so there is no way I could commute to LA. Thanks anyway," and he hung up the phone.

Well, I went just a little crazy and said to Ryan in not such a calm tone of voice, "Are you out of your mind?" I just could not believe he would turn down such an opportunity. I was worried he was destined to sit in that blue desk chair for the rest of his life! I had begun asking him if he was sure that chair wasn't permanently affixed to his rear end?

In all honesty, I had just about had enough of watching my son, who was now 19, sitting for endless hours in that chair staring into the computer monitor. Not to mention the annoying, constant sound of those keys tapping away night and day! I needed some 'space.' I needed some peace and quiet. I NEEDED him to get a job!

After we had calmed down and offered Ryan the use of one of our cars, he called the company back. He spoke to the man who had offered him the job, and began the next day.

That was three years ago. Ryan has made great strides in the computer industry since that time. The company started him out in a manual labor position, but shortly realized he was over-qualified and advanced him with a raise. They paid for him to take all of the necessary certification courses needed to advance even further. And advance he has. He is now 22 years old and making a six-figure salary in a profession he loves as a Network Engineer.

As for my husband and I, well, of course we couldn't be prouder. And our girls, now 15 and 18, have also become quite proficient in the use of computers. They are great at helping mom and dad out, as we have not quite caught on yet!

I must now admit I regret any negative feelings I had watching Ryan sit for hours on end banging away at the keyboard. Little did I know that it would turn out to be the 'key' to his future.

And as far as that old blue desk chair? I just might have it bronzed!