When I wrote last week, I was working from my tablet, sitting in Virginia.  Despite the fact that I am writing from home today, I am again writing from my tablet despite the fact that I have a beautiful nearly new computer.

Why?

Because the nearly new computer is sitting in a shop.

Why?

Because the nearly new computer has crashed.  

There are several theories as to the cause.  It could have been a virus.  It could have been simply that one or more of the functions did not execute properly, confusing the computer brain and causing it to "freeze", in a way.

Fortunately, it appears as though most, if not all, of the information housed there can be retrieved.

I say "fortunately" because this was not due to my own efforts.

I love technology.  I am a geek.  I love gizmos and gadgets and am constantly amazed at what a chunk of plastic and metal and wires can do when brilliant minds give it instruction through software programs.  I have worked over the years to become more "digitally" minded, exchanging paper processes with technology where I can.

Sure, there are still some areas where I am old school.

I still like to write letters and thank you notes in cursive handwriting and send them via the postal service with a stamp.  Despite the fact that I take digital images of artwork from my nieces and nephew for posterity's sake, there are some pieces where I hold the original, just so I can see the color and texture on the paper, knowing the story behind the small hands that created it.

Despite my old soul, I continue to embrace my technology.

There is a dark side to all of this.

As much as I trust that my computer is an amazing piece of machinery that performs miracles with the information I put in, I forgot a cardinal rule:

It is still a computer.

There are two types of computers.  

Those that HAVE crashed and those that WILL crash.

I was lazy about backing up the information.  I have another little piece of plastic, metal, and wires that connects to the computer (called an external hard drive for my non-geeky readers). There are several types of these drives.  Basically they allow a shift of all information stored within the main computer to be stored in a separate "holding place".  

BUT...

Yes, it is a big "BUT"...

The external hard drive requires that you actually connect it to the computer and move the information from the computer to the external hard drive.

I had not used the external hard drive since February.

No, it was not even on "the list".

Why would I commit this gigantic error and risk all of my precious information?

Because it was a new computer.   I purchased it in February.  I told myself nothing would happen to a new computer.

I fell into a false sense of confidence thinking that nothing would happen to my beautiful new computer.  A new computer is like a new car, but without the new car smell.  There are no miles on it.  There is a single owner.  I am careful where I park it to prevent anyone from scratching the door.  

Even a new car can crash.

Despite the two days of stress and horror as I pondered all of the information I risked to lose, I still love technology.  I will not be shifting my money out of the bank and into Mason jars buried in the yard.  I will, however, use tools available to me as I would insurance on my car.

I will be scheduling a back up on a regular basis (and yes, it will be on "the list"). 

I do utilize "cloud" functions and house certain information in the cyber world for storage so I can utilize it in in many different places.  However, that technology CAN fail as well.  Of course, it is protected by the companies that store it.  Despite that protection, I need be more responsible with my data at home.

My choice will be to store my information home and away.  I will use my external hard drive the way it was meant to be used so I have an updated copy of all of my files.  I will also use a "cloud" storage system.  That way, heaven forbid something would happen to destroy the homestead, there is still a chance my years of pictures, documents, and memories will be secured until I can reach them.

Thankfully, nobody was hurt during this event.  Well, no serious injuries.

Only my pride was bruised as I made this problem more complicated than it needed to be.

Another lesson learned.