(no subject)
I've been doing this agency-wide computer upgrade project at work, and one of the side effects, is, of course, a bunch of obsolete computers1. Still, one man's "obsolete" is another man's "hey, it beats the cardboard computer that came with my desk." And one day a co-worker asked, on behalf of an ex-employee, if I had any systems available to donate. I said yes, and was put in touch with a woman who lived in a semi-assisted living environment. She told me that there was a disabled gal there, 29 and wheelchair-bound, who would love a computer. I said I'd be happy to set something up in my free time, and started to do so. And I did, although it took me at least a month - either I was busy working, busy moving to my new office, or just plain procrastinating. Whatever - I eventually cobbled together a pretty decent little system for something free. About a week ago, I handed it off to a co-worker who then delivered it to the girl - I was happy to put it together, but didn't want to be bothered with carting it around or anything. I never met nor even talked to the gal it was made for, since the person who asked me for the computer wanted it to be a surprise.
And a pleasant surprise it was! I got this email on Sunday night telling me that the computer was greatly appriciated:
Dear Nat,
I wanted you to know how happy you made Julie. She was telling everyone how excited she was having a computer of her very own.
We lost her yesterday, she passed away.
It really hit us all here very hard.
Thank you again for making her so happy.
Most Sincerely,
joannie
This was about the last thing I was expecting - like a sock to the gut while you're facing away. In my world, my inconsequential little microcosm, 29 year olds don't die. Not ones I know. Maybe people on the news, or on TV - Vague People. I sit here having logged 26 years and change in my stint as Alive, and despite my fretting about where I'm going with my life, the truth is that I live day-to-day like my time on this world is a near endless expanse, stretching out before me and continuing well past the point where it meets with the horizon.
I wonder if, ultimately, this will inspire anything other than guilt in me. I feel a little bad that I dawdled on getting her a computer, but it's clear that there is a better lesson to be taken away from this - will I learn?
1. If you have the hankering for a PII333/4G/128mb/eth/audio system and are willing to pick up, let me know. they make great paperweights, less great stocking stuffers.
And a pleasant surprise it was! I got this email on Sunday night telling me that the computer was greatly appriciated:
Dear Nat,
I wanted you to know how happy you made Julie. She was telling everyone how excited she was having a computer of her very own.
We lost her yesterday, she passed away.
It really hit us all here very hard.
Thank you again for making her so happy.
Most Sincerely,
joannie
This was about the last thing I was expecting - like a sock to the gut while you're facing away. In my world, my inconsequential little microcosm, 29 year olds don't die. Not ones I know. Maybe people on the news, or on TV - Vague People. I sit here having logged 26 years and change in my stint as Alive, and despite my fretting about where I'm going with my life, the truth is that I live day-to-day like my time on this world is a near endless expanse, stretching out before me and continuing well past the point where it meets with the horizon.
I wonder if, ultimately, this will inspire anything other than guilt in me. I feel a little bad that I dawdled on getting her a computer, but it's clear that there is a better lesson to be taken away from this - will I learn?
1. If you have the hankering for a PII333/4G/128mb/eth/audio system and are willing to pick up, let me know. they make great paperweights, less great stocking stuffers.