how I got into Linux

ell, today is a good date to start a blog, since is February 29, 2012

Linux...
at first I just said... what's Linux? I had no idea that there was anything besides windows.
Mexico, my children had left to the US, their father also a US citizen was gone... I was alone, sad and getting very depress.
A friend from Seville, Spain, in his effort to help me, suggested for me to learn Linux. I agreed, but I had no idea what he was talking about.
I had never gone to a computer programming school, I was not good on computers.. but my friend told me that it would help. At that moment I had no idea how learning Linux could help.
He gave me a website where I downloaded a Linux program and burned it onto a image disk... (He showed me how to do that too)
After that, he told to configure my router to let him into my computer and to put the disk inside the cd ram. And after that I just watched... how my screen went blank... and he began to install my first distro into my computer... Slackware. then I saw a X appeared. and I had no idea what, or how or... what's was that, or next.
He install the GNOME desktop.. plus a few programs, firefox... ect.. so now I was able to connect and talk with him... but I still had to install a few more things
I took a lot of notes from him, and then he let me install the rest of the stuff I need it... I hated it at first but, but he didn't gave up on me.. he just kept on encouraging me to search, and read, and read, read, he made me read, mans man many times! and there were no colours?
Well, after that I was not sure if I was crying because of trying to learn Linux or because my kids were gone!! but it kept me busy and distracted from feeling any more pain, or from falling into depression.
No, it has not been easy, Linux had given me a few gray hairs, I had chewed up my nails and had made me cry and laugh at the same time... feeling very angry. With no teacher in the class it is hard to learn on your own. LOL But I read...here and there..

My friend helped me with the first installation, but after that, he just showed me how to get information of how to do things..
I don't know much, but when I have to do something, I learned to find the way to do it... by searching and reading... and I had done installations on my own ever since.

I am grateful and feel privileged to have a great friend, who cared enough, not to let me drown in my own sadness. A friend that even with such a great distance found a way to help a friend.

A friend who pushed me to learn and kept me so busy that I had no time to feel sorry for myself. I STILL HAVE MY FIRST NOTE BOOK.. ON THE FRONT PAGE IT IS WRITTEN. "TURNING PAIN INTO ACTION... LINUX"
Well, now I am back in the states, back with my son and daughter, and got my house, and I am still using Linux... I had installed it to several computers, and even on laptops. Well, that's how I became a Linux freak. I am glad that I was introduced and pushed and encouraged to learn it. Specially at one of my worse moments in life.

My friend and I still talk but now with the crisis, he is trying so hard to keep his company going, I wish that was a way that I could help him too.
I still ask him questions when I need help, he just sends me to read about it and learn it... he is a great friend, and a great teacher.

Well, that's how I started with Linux... Thanks to my dear friend J. Franco. Seville, Tomares, Spain.

Thank you to all that had answer some of my questions, and had help me to solve problems...


FlorMarina