Monday, August 1, 2011

Laptop Lovin'





Last night, after I finished loading the dishes , I went to park my butt on the couch to watch a bit of Harry Potter with the fam when my husband blurted out, “Did you just stroke your laptop?” 

“Did I what?” I sat down and rolled my eyes. I heard him, but I needed time to summon up a great comeback. We’ve played this game before—the ‘you’re always on the computer game.’ I usually lose this game. 

“You stroked your laptop,” he repeated with even more complacency. 

It took a second and then it hit me. When I had stumbled over my husband’s feet to sit next to him, I reached over and swept my hand across my laptop. A love pat? No. I was checking to see if it had cooled down. 

So yes, I stroked my laptop. I don’t love love my laptop. I wouldn’t stroke it in a loving way. I don’t think about its warmth on my legs and the wonderful click-clacking sound as my fingers scramble over the keys when we’re apart. I don’t. 

Okay, maybe I do. 

I love my laptop. It is the one thing that is mine; the one thing that I do just for me. I write, blog, and critique manuscripts every day. So I do spend a lot of time on my computer and get a ton of flack from my husband. 

Perhaps one day, when all this writing business pays off, he’ll be less inclined to reach for absurdities just to rattle me, or point out that my lovin’ feelings for the inanimate aren’t normal. 

Funny thing, though, right after the “stroking” incident I went upstairs to take a bath. It took all of five minutes before I heard a knock, knock, knock on the door with my kids on the other side, screaming to get in. Another couple of minutes later, the cat reached her paw under the door and started howling. There’s never a dull or quiet moment in a mother’s day; so, I say let me stroke my laptop. As long as mama’s happy . . . right? 

Have you stroked your laptop today? 

8 comments:

Korrina Robinson said...

I don't think I've ever stroked my laptop but then again, I'm not a writer. I have gotten flack from my husband for rubbing one of my clay eggs on my cheek after sanding. There's just something about that silky smoothness!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

You go right ahead and stroke that inanimate means to having some time for yourself, Diana - it deserves some lovin' if its allowing you precious creative space! And non-writing hsubands generally do see the light eventually.

Vicki Tremper said...

Okay, are we the same person? I spend a lot of time on the computer, too, and get a lot of resentful looks from my husband. He doesn't get cutesy about it, though. Someday we'll both show them it was all worth it.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

hehe. That's awesome. Stroke away in my opinion. Laptops need love too.

April Yedinak said...

Don't you love how popular you become as soon as you step into the bathroom? It's like they think you have a magical portal to a candy store that you open when you step inside.

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

I'm so glad I have a laptop to stroke now. lol

Lani Wendt Young said...

I sooo love this! LOL

My laptop is my beloved preciousssssssss. (insert Smeagle expression and covetous leer right here.) Have I stroked it lately? Umm no. But I do hide it in several different spots every time we all leave the house IN CASE robbers get in while Im gone. And I have left strict instructions to the family, 'if the house catches fire, SAVE THE LAPTOP'. Yes, yes, save the children first...but then a very close second is SAVE THE LAPTOP.

I need to get a life.

Janelle S said...

I enjoyed this post, thanks for sharing.