The computer screen lit up and my rebuilt compute whirred into life. The poor beast, overworked and laden, gave up the ghost two weeks ago. It’s little brother, my trusty laptop, did not hold up the task of taking its place. It too coughed – and hiccupped – and sadly died. I sat in my black leather chair, in my office, and began to weep. The realization that I had been cutoff from the world, severed most cruelly from ghostly relationships, tended so carefully across the ether. No more was I connected to my vaguely artistic works peppered hither and thither on the strands of the world wide web. I was overcome with a deep dread – I had been slowly cyberized, over the years, by trying to master these devices. How was I connected to the world? Not by handshakes and hugs, but by directed bytes, e-mails, and URL addresses.
I steeled myself up, pressing down the fearful flutters in my stomach. I was going to be strong. I would take my devices – for that is all they are – down to a computer shop where would sit a maven, an expert, who will take my broken wings and once again make them fly. Soon all would be well. The magical diagnosis was performed and the worst was revealed. They were both old and worn, just like me. The rush of empathy nearly overwhelmed me. Then that which must be asked – was asked, “What do you want to do with them?” I was shocked dumbfounded. ‘Had he no heart?’ I thought. These have been my partners, my companions in arms. We have taken every battle with stout hearts and drives. We have, together, written over five hundred thousand words. They sat there patiently while I sweat and ached to nudge some morsel from an unresponsive muse. They assisted me in writing all those query letters and felt, I’m sure, sympathy when the rejection letters came rolling in. Do I just cast them in the garbage heap? They deserve more.
Then the brilliant and blessed A+ certified genius said, “Why don’t we drop a new, larger, hard drive and double up your RAM. Then you just reload your operating system and your software and your good to go – won’t cost you near as much as new computer. Your laptop just needs a couple of larger sticks – RAM. Easy!”
The light of heaven opened up and I heard the entire Muse’ singing in a combined chorus of Alleluia. My freinds could be resurected. I could see the clouds breaking and all those past writers, who struggled with mere pen and paper, all were giving me a ‘thumbs up’. So generous those previous others who made there way without spellchecker, and the Internet. We computer literate writers, of today, give a nod to those who loved their fine quill and expensive inks, who toiled away pounding the mechanical keys of an old Remington, tossing mistyped pages of incoherent thoughts into the trash.
“So, what do you want to do?”
I blinked as the vision passed and looked, watery eyed, at the techno maven. “Fix it! My food man, my techno savior, boost the power – boost the memory – get me up and on line as soon as your are able. We have work to do”
“Come and get them at five!”
The shakes began. “Five? That would be six hours.”
“Yeah! About that.”
“What will I do?”
“There’s a Mc Donald’s across the street. They have chairs and a big screen TV. Have one of those iced-coffees – they are good. I’ll have two or three every day.”
“I turned and found my way to the place he suggested. The iced-coffee was pretty good, as were the four cheeseburgers. I watched Fox News and was brought up to date on the state of the Democratic Party and all of Obama’s failures. Five o’clock came and I, much enlightened, found my way back to the shop. I took my electronic patients home, spent the rest of the night loading programs, connecting modems, setting up e-mail accounts, and having a wonderful time.
Even though life has its ups and downs – its all pretty good. Isn’t it?
It’s always sad to lose a computer, especially one that was working fine before. It’s kind of like a cowboy losing a horse.