Thank you all. I am a noob at this (but started with computers when they were teletypes and index card hoppers, but wow this bitcoin thing is wEirD and I am trying to understand it-- watched a couple of documentaries (Rise and Rise of the Bitcoin, etc) and read a couple of kindle books on this; still, bizarre.
it is already alot easier than 2-3 years ago. and it will improve....
I hope, it is on the edge of my understanding.
I just found this site, helps
bitaddress.org
because I generated a public and private set of keys both in text format and QR image which now I kind of get it-- the pair of those represents a 'Wallet' or safe deposit box to be loaded with bitcoin money or not, and one keeps the private key, well, private, and uses the public key (or QR code) to let the world or someone I am giving or getting bitcoins from the 'address' of my wallet to send/receive bitcoin. I like the bitaddress.org site because it also generated bitcoin paper that if one had a color printed could actually be printed out to look like money, for cold storage (like in a ziplock bag stored under the proverbial mattress, lol).