Technology Tangles

Wouldn't you know it. Just when I want to begin a new adventure, writing my blog, something comes along to snarl up the process. This time it was technology. I recently experienced the dreaded "hard drive crash", and the results were not pretty. Of course, the vehicle of choice was my seven year old laptop. In computer age, that's an old dog. I am not a geek, more of a dork, when it comes to being able to diagnose problems, but this death was obvious. I saw all the signs--slow awakening, loss of memory, sputtering when trying to operate. I know this sounds more like me when I wake up in the morning, but it really was my computer. Well, after all the symptoms occurred for about a week, it finally sighed it's last and I had to go into rehab while I went through the stages of grief. It looked something like this:

• Denial--What! This can't be happening! I can't afford another computer!
• Anger--I know it happened on purpose. The cosmos is against me! That machine is evil!
• Let's Make A Deal--Look, God. You know I have the best of intentions with my plan to manage my debt. Could you make a way for this new financial need and I'll write something really great about you.
• Depression--There is no life. I don't know what to do. I'll have to write--with paper and pen. I hate my life.
• Acceptance--Okay. It won't be forever. I'll wait until the income tax return comes in February.
• A Sale--You guessed it. I found a new laptop, great sale, and won't have to pay interest. I can pay it off in February and am back to the blog.

The truth of the matter is, it was only a week, but in today's world I have fallen like the rest of us into the belief that I can't survive without my cell phone, laptop, Skype, Internet, etc. I'm not as technologically bound as some, but neither am I unshackled by our modern devices. During the week, I read more, thought more, visited with my neighbor more, and spent time with my cat more. I slowed down and that wasn't so bad. I gained some perspective and I hope that I will carry that with me into the future with my new laptop. I appreciate the advantages of technology and hope that I have renewed my memory when it comes to valuing the slower pace without them.