Wednesday, November 7, 2007

computer angst

In the aftermath of having our computers stolen, Krista and I have been dealing with file reconstruction. File reconstruction feels like a hundred small deaths, because every time you have to reconstruct one you realize what you lost---again and again and again. There are so many small things that made my day-to-day easier: methods and structures and templates. Things that I love that are now gone. There are moments when it all seems fine, and then moments when I mourn the loss of files so dear that they were like friends to me. Only I didn't realize. It's true that you don't know what you got till it's gone.

I think there's a fine balance between being grateful for what you have and having the chance to start fresh. It's like that old Girl Scout song, "Make New Friends, But Keep the Old." (My parents enrolled me in the Christian version of Girl Scouts, but Christians are all about the old and the new, too.) I'm sorry, Files. I didn't appreciate you enough when I had you. And now you're lost to me forever.

1 comment:

Jamie Thornton said...

Oh wow. I belonged to Pioneer Girls back in the day too. I never thought I'd hear about another member *cough* victim.

All my life is bound up in my computer files. I feel your pain (and am furiously backing up my stuff as I type this).