Connie the Compaq

My trusted friend, Connie the Compaq is truly on her last legs. Tonight I am mourning the prospect of losing her after everything we have been through together. Tomorrow I will dedicate a few hours in a last attempt to revive her and prolong her life to fulfill my happiness.

Connie the Compaq and I have been together for four years. When I first got ill she came into hospital with me and when I was an inpatient she was at my side. She provided me with an outlet (my diary) and entertainment (DVDs and games). She charged up my iPod, and when wi-fi was available she kept me in touch with people. She’s the only one who stayed at my side 24/7 and kept me from being lonely.

She started to get ill in 2008 – around the same time as I had my operation. She got left on in the rush of getting me to theatre and unplugged. She went through a phase of not charging properly but overcame her short illness. Then she started to have problems with booting up so I bought Delilah the Dell in case I was left in hospital with no means of communicating with the outside world: especially as at the time I needed MSN to chat to my Dad online because he was working abroad.

Connie the Compaq started really getting sick at the beginning of this year. She would start to boot and after 20 seconds “restart”. Hitting F8 used to work and I could enter in safe mode to restart – then she would work perfectly for a few weeks. But these last few months, Connie the Compaq has just been trying to boot up more than she has worked.

I have tried to fix her. I’ve taken her to four computer doctors and I have spent many hours nursing her. Sadly I lost the installation CDs and the recent one I was sent by Compaq was no good.

I refuse to believe that Connie the Compaq wants to leave me. I’ve loved her so much. I’ve cried with her, laughed with her, worked on her and played on her. I’ve protected her in a nice laptop bag and I’ve kept her virus free. I’ve protected her privacy and taken her more-or-less everywhere with me. I do feel guilty: I gave up on her too soon by getting Delilah the Dell, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t love Connie the Compaq any less. I love them both equally, but I love Connie the Compaq a little bit more.

I will have a last attempt tomorrow at saving Connie the Compaq. If I cannot then I’ll buy her a nice box and store her under my bed: I will not get rid of her. I don’t want her to think that I’ve forgotten her or that I’ve moved on so easily. I will always love my Connie the Compaq. I’m so sorry that I may not be spending this Christmas with her.