I just posted this on my blog. It's a follow-up to another piece I wrote about problems trying to get my CD burning software to work. If you're curious, you can go over to http://jerryrasmussen.blogspot.com and read the previous piece.

Old Dog Learns New Trick

        My son Gideon must have been six or seven years old. I was sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee when he walked into the room holding a small toy in his hand. I couldn't see what it was but by the look on his face, I could see he was upset. "Dad, my toy is malfunctioning." "You mean it's broken?" I said. He looked at me forlornly. "I don't know," he said. It's just malfunctioning." When I was his age, kids were arguing about which horse was better, Trigger or Champion. They never malfunctioned. Life was simpler back then.
        I thought of that tonight after I got home from Staples. I'd dropped by to talk with one of the guys who works there who is a computer technician. After my friend Dan was transferred to another store when the local Staples closed I was once again dependent upon the graciousness of a stranger: Cy by name. I'd called the store to see if I could speak to someone but the connection was so poor, I could barely hear what the person was saying. I think my phone was malfunctioning. I'd never spoken to Cy before, but he was very friendly when I walked over and introduced myself. Even though I could barely hear him when I called, as soon as I identified myself and started to explain my problem, a smile of recognition crossed his face and he said, "Oh yeah, I remember your call." As I told him about all the steps I'd taken to try to figure out what the problem was with my CD burning software, he would occasionally offer a nod of agreement or offer a more detailed explanation of what might be the problem. I felt good about the whole conversation. It's not that Cy told me how to resolve the problem, because he didn't. I just felt encouraged that I was on the right track.

        When I'd discussed the whole problem with him and felt I understood what to do next, we walked over to the software section to see what options I had for a new CD burner program. Looking at the shiny, inviting packaging, I recognized an earlier version of the same software I was having trouble with. I picked it up and checked it to see if it was compatible with my Windows Vista. And it was. Maybe I was just nostalgic about simpler days but I thought of Fibber McGhee and Molly. They lived on Wistful Vista. Fibber had a lot of trouble with a malfunctioning closet, but I always thought it would be wonderful to live on a street named Wistful Vista. But, I'm meandering. I thanked Cy profusely for his help and said, "Your name will be easy to remember. I sigh often when I'm working on my computer."

        When I got home I dug out an earlier version of the CD burning software and installed it in my computer. I was strangely calm as I waited for the software to be installed. When I was finally giving the "Finished" notice, I fired up my tape recorder and tried recording the same song I'd been trying to copy for the last three or four days. Everything seemed to be working fine, although that didn't mean much in itself. Up to that point, everything seemed to be working fine with the software I'd been having so much trouble with. The test was when I put in a blank CD, and clicked Burn CD. I waited for my computer to make a face, pucker up its mouth and spit out the blank CD. But, it just hummed contentedly. While it was burning the CD, I went upstairs and poured a mug of coffee. By the time I came downstairs and went back into my office my computer screen was announcing proudly "The CD is completed!" I added the exclamation point. I removed the CD, put it in my stereo and waited expectantly until the guitar introduction came pouring out of my speakers. "Hallelujah!" I said softly to myself.
        In my list of possible reasons why I wasn't able to make the software work, I had overlooked one.
        Maybe the software was malfunctioning.
        Sometimes old dogs can learn new tricks.