Every Six Months

   ~ by Beverly Koski

Not so long ago, a tune up meant that it was time for regular maintenance to my car. Now my Honda takes second place to my computer. When my desk top announced "no internet connectivity", I felt compelled to immediately contact my service provider. After being lead through the process of being connected once again, there were occasions of wait time for things to happen. During these periods I was entertained by a cheerful male voice on the other end of the telephone line. Naturally, I used this opportunity to ask him if he could explain mysterious events which had taken place during the hot spell in July when my computer had shut down by itself and when the cooling fan had developed a disturbing rattle. Distressingly, his response was that a computer needed cleaning every six months to keep it running efficiently; and didn't I realize that it might otherwise overheat and some of the circuits might even meld to each other!

Next morning, I unplugged my two year old, never cleaned before tower, carefully marking with tape, each wire as it was pulled out. I headed for the repair depot as the door was being opened for business. There was already a line-up. How long will it take? We all got the same reply: two days.

Day one: Soon after my return home, I identified the signs of withdrawal. I had to stop myself from heading to the library or a friend's house to access my webmail. I managed to resist. Freedom to do other tasks seemed vaguely alarming.

Day two: Absentmindedly, I would head up the stairs to my computer room, stopping short at the thought of the void I would face. I made more telephone calls than usual, and even stepped out to the mailbox as soon as I saw the postman.

Day three: I awoke excitedly. Surely the machine would be ready today; I didn't phone the depot, instead I drove there. "Not yet, he said. But your computer is next in the queue." The day loomed ahead, and I recalled that heavy depression one felt upon graduation from high school with its daily prospect of never seeing one's closest friends again.

Day four: During the drive, my emotions swung from resignation to anger. Perhaps, if I had taken my hard drive to another company, I would have it back now. How dare they tell me two days! Back home again, I chose to dull the pain by watching a Turner Classic movie circa 1951.

Later in the afternoon, the call came, and I was soon home re-connecting and catching up with emails. The experience was humbling. Whoever shall criticize young people for being electronically dedicated to their Facebook, YouTube, computer Games etc., must surely look within first.

  ~ by Beverly Koski, September 2009