Internet was not readily available in my home but I did have a computer. Once I learned about chat rooms at a friends house though, I knew I needed it.

It was the first time I installed one of those Free AOL online cds from the mail. It's also the first time I committed theft. That theft being my Grandmother's credit card because of course, nothing is really free.

Once I heard the most beautiful noise in the world, the majestic Dial-Up tone, I knew I was hooked for life.

I'm pretty sure I burned the A/S/L keys off my keyboard from the many hours I spent in chat rooms. About this time I also learned my Mother was lying about going blind once I discovered the treasure trove of online porn. From there I moved onto downloadable games and my social life became a virtual one.

Today I use the internet for work, play and social but it will never be as good as those early days of dial-up. I'm probably the only one who thinks that but I'll take the good ol' days of chat rooms without pornbots over ad-infused, virus-laden, spam monsters of today's interwebs!