Broken computer leads to admiration and respect

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Having said, only a week ago, that my computer provides me with a way to find Ann Romney’s “losing yourself in doing something else” instead of talking about the disease that has taken over our lives, my life just pitched me a curve ball.

On Saturday morning, while trying to get online, I found myself suddenly thrown into a form of ultra-lockdown – when my laptop died. In just a slit second, my way of interacting with the world had gone.

It was patently obvious that a new laptop was essential as repairs to old equipment is often expensive and time consuming. So, a new one was quickly ordered by my wife Lisa, using her pc. Even so, as the replacement did not arrive until Tuesday morning, my downtime lasted three days.

Saturday turned out to be mostly taken up by catching up on apparently much-needed sleep. Sunday was spent chilling out in front of the television, including the watching of an all-time favourite – the formula one motor racing grand prix.

Monday was a day of frustration as the hours passed and the promised delivery failed to happen. Tuesday morning, however, I awoke to the sound of Lisa ripping open the packaging to reveal my new lightweight Lenovo laptop. What a sight for sore eyes.

Doggedness and determination

“Only ‘three days’, what’s the problem?”, you may very well ask. And, in this case, you’d be right, it was not long to wait and meant that only one of my twice-weekly blog posts was lost.

But it got me thinking more about other people who may lose, or indeed never have, their own ways of losing themselves in doing something else.

Last week’s blog explained that my version of getting lost is writing. No surprise there, having written for a living as a journalist since the age of 17.

These days, MS only allows me the use of one hand to type, but the time spent on the laptop, researching, writing, and communicating, is therapeutic. It does me good to leave today’s realities of having multiple sclerosis and its resulting mobility issues behind, for a while, and lose myself in the subject of the moment.

How others manage without such opportunities to escape, albeit temporarily, from their debilitating diseases and disabilities is doubtless beyond the comprehension of most people.

Their doggedness, and determination to carry on, is a true inspiration and should be greatly admired and respected by all.

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Spelling

Please note that being born in the UK, all my posts, are written using British English spelling.

For example:

Centre                              not center (except in names, Centers of Disease Control)                  Colour                              not color                                                                                                                      Diarrhoea                       not diarrhea                                                                                                  Haematology                not hematology                                                                                Haematopoietic          not hematopoietic

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50shadesofsun.com is the personal website of Ian Franks. He enjoyed a successful career as a journalist, from reporter to editor in the print media. He gained a Journalist of the Year award in his native UK. More recently, he was a freelance medical writer and editor for various health information sites. Ian received a diagnosis of MS in 2002 and now lives in the south of Spain. He uses a wheelchair and advocates on mobility and accessibility issues.

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Note: Health-related information available on 50shadesofsun website is for your general knowledge only. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Ian is not a doctor, so cannot and does not give you medical advice. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues. Also, consult a doctor before starting a new diet or exercise programme. Any opinions expressed are purely his own unless otherwise stated.

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