The Computer Crash, a Crushed Denise Noe — and what kind of Christmas?
I didn’t expect it to happen. My computer was operating as usual and then — a gray screen and a little icon in the middle switching from one thing to another. I called in a computer repair service.
My computer had crashed. The machine could be restarted but the data could not be recovered, at least not by this technician. It had been a long, long time before I’d even thought of making back-ups and much of my life, including financial records and writing, was on that computer.
The part of the computer that held the data was shipped to a firm that specializes in recovering data in such cases. It can be recovered but that recovery will cost me about a month’s income.
As you might guess, I was crushed by this crash. My situation is always somewhat precarious as I am disabled both because of a severe psychiatric disorder and a back problem that causes chronic pain.
Even before the crash, I didn’t have the funds to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Plans to have it with a friend fell through because of his health problems.
Thus, I spent Thanksgiving at one of the few restaurants in metro Atlanta that is open on that holiday. I eat out quite often as it is hard for me to fix adequate meals at home and keep my place properly clean as I have a tiny kitchen with no dishwasher. Dining out is one of my few indulgences as I generally wear my shoes until they have holes in them.
The restaurant at which I was dining is expensive. Just as I was finishing up my turkey dinner, a server who had not previously attended my table came up to me and said, “You don’t have to worry about paying. My ladies picked it up for you because it’s Thanksgiving.â€ÂÂ
I was astonished. I didn’t know the women at the next table and they had left without giving me a chance to thank them. Why had they picked me out for this wonderful largesse? Perhaps I touched their heartstrings because I was alone and everyone else in a group. Perhaps they figured from my dress that I was not as affluent as the others dining there. Or perhaps it just made sense to give your blessing to the party of one.
At any rate, I was very cheered up by this unexpected and beautiful act of generosity.
Unlike those ladies, readers of this blog know me. Would some of you like to send me something for Christmas? I’m not begging for anything and am certain not all my readers can afford a gift. However, just a card shows me that you are thinking of me in a kind light and would be appreciated.
If any of my readers can afford to be generous, the most appreciated gifts would be as follows:
1) Money.
2) Cassettes or CDs of audio dramas/comedies or recordings of stories.
3) DVDs or videos of motion pictures or television programs.
If anyone wants to help cheer me up for Christmas, they can send me a private email and I’ll give them an address at which to mail me.
