I have always hated computers. Throughout my life, they have crashed on me, erased very important documents of mine, and given me dozens of stress headaches. So you could understand that I am not the biggest fan of computers. Even though people say they are a necessity in the world today, I always thought I could live without them – I realized this month just how wrong I was.

I was recently separated from my computer for an entire month – and I will confess that it was the hardest month of my life.

Being the Moderator of a daily on-line Digest and having to write this column for my website and articles for Ring Fever’s website proves that I cannot function without a computer. So when my computer decided to cease function last month, I had to send it out to be fixed and live without it until it was repaired. So while my computer was being fixed, I was as helpless as a carpenter without his hammer and nails, or a taxi driver without a cab. I had stories to write, website content to update and a Digest to put out – and no computer.

I was able to do some of what I had to do thanks to my friends and my girlfriend letting me use their computers, But although I got some of what I needed done, other stuff I had to do fell way behind and some very important documents that were on the computer were feared lost. On top of that, my schedule got completely thrown off because I would usually do my writing and updating during the day at work when it was slow. Now, I had to wait until I got home around 7:00pm, and then start to do work that would normally have been done already, but now would take me until 9:00pm.

So not only did I have my own stress about this – I had people barking at me left and right asking me why things that would normally be done every day were not and why things I had to do were not being done. Truthfully, I could not do it because what I needed and what I needed to do it with I did not have.

Going through this for a week was hell – but a whole month became intolerable. I kept praying that I would get my computer back soon and that all the data on it would still be there. I promised that I would be nice to it and never yell at it again. But each time I was supposed to get it back – I was told that I would have to wait another day, another week, just a few more days – and then finally – I got my computer back.

When it was handed to me, I felt a rush of relief and jubilation flow through me. I never realized how invaluable a computer can be and how displaced your life can become without one – I just wish I could have learned that lesson an easier way.

I have since caught up on what I let fall behind and have been returned to my regular schedule. But I will never forget that terrible month without my computer.

By the way, it’s 1:00pm. Have you hugged your computer today?