Once you go Mac you never go back.
Or do you?
What happens if your Mac goes kaput? Like mine did. Nothing. Not a light. Not a whir. Not a gasp.
Well, I gasped. Possibly shed a tear.
I wasn’t expecting a Mac to die.
Here’s the thing.
I didn’t want the laptop in the first place. I am not first in line when it comes to new technology. That would be my husband. I’m about four years behind him.
If I didn’t get the iPhone finally shoved down my throat I would still be happily using the flip phone. You’d get a phone call from me and not a text.
Now, I text and the only phone calls I make (where I actually have to speak to someone besides my Mom) or receive are wrong numbers, the unbearable conversations with repairmen which end up with me enunciating very clearly and the odd call from the school.
In this case the iPhone is a blessing. Laptop gone and phone to the rescue. I can do most things on it. But it’s not the same.
So I went and found the old laptop. The beloved one that put up with my hammering away on it for years. So much so that the letter “S” is non existent. Faded away because of me and my writing.
As an aside, “S” is very popular. I am not a yes girl but I am most definitely an “S” girl. Hangman, crossword puzzles and Scrabble. “S” always comes in handy. As in SOS! What would happen if you got a distress call “O”??
Anyway, back to the ThinkPad. I fired that baby up and was back in business.Except this bad boy literally heats up like nobody’s business. Could end up with third degree burns on your lap if not careful. I could rename it “lap-top layer of skin.”
Took getting used to again. I was trying to use my finger tips to move things around the screen to no avail. Kept deleting things. And getting frustrated.
Now here is the very cool thing.
When I opened up the laptop I discovered a file titled “Papa.” It contained photos and four videos that I hadn’t seen in a few years. Forgot they existed. They were sent to me by one of my cousins. Taken at my father’s surprise party when he turned eighty.
It was me, at my cousin’s Irish Social Club, giving the speeches in honor of my Dad. Was a great day.
I came up with a game “How well do you know Pat Lennon?” followed with fun facts.
Then poked fun at him for his phrases in my growing up years. About how he never pronounced “th” only the “t” Like how my kids would ask the gas price (on purpose to hear his answer) and he would reply, “Tree-tirty-tree a gallon.”
I told him my memories of him would last a lifetime.
And then I thanked him. Not just for creating me and acknowledging that I was his best work ever. LOL. But I also told him I was grateful he was my Dad and that I was always aware I was one of the lucky ones.
At the end of the speech I told him I loved him.
You know what?
I was absolutely right that day.
My memories of him will last a lifetime.
And I was reminded of this by my Mac biting the dust and me having to figure out something else.
My Nana used to say, “Light from another window.”
One could also say that one door closes and another opens.
Sometimes that’s hard to believe.
But sometimes it is so true. Even if we don’t know it at the time.
Just Being Mary 