My Dear Friend
On June 03 of this year, my computer’s processor failed. It took two months of dead ends and a hefty sum to get it working. Since my reboot (of course, I used a computer term), I have reflected on this incident and the place my computer occupies in my life.
The time I spent without my computer was incredibly stressful. And after I finally got it working, it took me three weeks to feel normal. This event made me understand that my computer is a profound part of my life; in some ways, more important than my car.
Because of this incident, I changed the way I back up my files. I installed a second SSD drive and, after every writing session, I make a full backup of all my Microsoft Word files. About every 3 weeks, I now make a complete backup and store it in the safe, which is an improvement over the partial backup I used to do, about every 2 months.
This heavy-handed scheme made me wonder why I cannot accept a few days of lost work. I think the problem stems from my linear thinking and logical goals. Meaning, I do one task, make sure it is correct, and move on to the next task. Meaning, I trust what I did. This builds a foundation, and when that foundation has a flaw, I am at a loss. Plus, there is a healthy element of paranoia. Granted, I did not lose any data during the incident, but it certainly upped my fear of losing data.
How would I describe this backup behavior? The term obsessive covers my actions. So, yes, I admit I have gone a bit overboard with my new routine. Yet it removed a lot of pressure, and I now feel much more secure after every backup.
I am happy to have my computer back. It is like a good friend returned from a long trip. We work hand in hand (mouse) through good and bad. This includes the fun of playing a computer game, the joy of learning something new online, and the satisfaction of completing a document. It also includes the frustration of not being able to format something properly, of failing to find information, of a deleted file, and of producing a subpar document.
My computer is my communications hub, primary research tool, entertainment center, and document powerhouse. We have achieved many accomplishments and overcome incredible setbacks. For example, when our house was broken into, I spent many hours working on the insurance paperwork. Without my computer having everything right where I needed it and the ability to create fantastic documents, this effort would have taken forever. The point is that we were a team, but there has been a nagging problem.
I still need to name her. Yes, my computer is definitely female. She is incredibly smart, quite mysterious, beautiful, sometimes temperamental, and must have things done her way. I respect her very much and am glad she is in my life. Does she operate like a Sarah or a Gwen? Hmm. “Grace” popped into my head as I was writing this. She is the main character in my first book. I will have to give this some thought while I type away late at night, in the warm glow of my dear friend.
You’re the best -Bill
October 20, 2021 Updated March 14, 2026
The time I spent without my computer was incredibly stressful. And after I finally got it working, it took me three weeks to feel normal. This event made me understand that my computer is a profound part of my life; in some ways, more important than my car.
Because of this incident, I changed the way I back up my files. I installed a second SSD drive and, after every writing session, I make a full backup of all my Microsoft Word files. About every 3 weeks, I now make a complete backup and store it in the safe, which is an improvement over the partial backup I used to do, about every 2 months.
This heavy-handed scheme made me wonder why I cannot accept a few days of lost work. I think the problem stems from my linear thinking and logical goals. Meaning, I do one task, make sure it is correct, and move on to the next task. Meaning, I trust what I did. This builds a foundation, and when that foundation has a flaw, I am at a loss. Plus, there is a healthy element of paranoia. Granted, I did not lose any data during the incident, but it certainly upped my fear of losing data.
How would I describe this backup behavior? The term obsessive covers my actions. So, yes, I admit I have gone a bit overboard with my new routine. Yet it removed a lot of pressure, and I now feel much more secure after every backup.
I am happy to have my computer back. It is like a good friend returned from a long trip. We work hand in hand (mouse) through good and bad. This includes the fun of playing a computer game, the joy of learning something new online, and the satisfaction of completing a document. It also includes the frustration of not being able to format something properly, of failing to find information, of a deleted file, and of producing a subpar document.
My computer is my communications hub, primary research tool, entertainment center, and document powerhouse. We have achieved many accomplishments and overcome incredible setbacks. For example, when our house was broken into, I spent many hours working on the insurance paperwork. Without my computer having everything right where I needed it and the ability to create fantastic documents, this effort would have taken forever. The point is that we were a team, but there has been a nagging problem.
I still need to name her. Yes, my computer is definitely female. She is incredibly smart, quite mysterious, beautiful, sometimes temperamental, and must have things done her way. I respect her very much and am glad she is in my life. Does she operate like a Sarah or a Gwen? Hmm. “Grace” popped into my head as I was writing this. She is the main character in my first book. I will have to give this some thought while I type away late at night, in the warm glow of my dear friend.
You’re the best -Bill
October 20, 2021 Updated March 14, 2026
