Tech Support with Mom
My mother had computer issues last night-today. She calls me early this morning, asking about their "slow computer." We determined she had disc errors... so I told her to try to fix it from the UNIX command line; when that didn't work, she ran the hardware CD.
She later admits she doesn't have a good surge protector, and the power goes out often with summer storms. Great.
So, I leave her be... and call her later when I'm at the grocery. "Mom, what all goes into gazpacho? I'm making it."
She was not in a good mood.
"I dont know. Tomatoes, I think."
"Yeah, professor, I have those... onion, garlic... a chile pepper... what else? I can't put in sherry..."
"I don't know John. Listen, I ran the hardware test and it said it was the software."
"No it didn't," I returned.
"Yes, it did."
"No, it didn't. It never says "it was the software," so what did it really say?"
There was a pause as I was getting my prosciutto.
"It said the hardware was fine," she added.
"Aha, so it wasn't the "software" it just said the hardware was okay..."
"Yes."
"Ok... well, re-install OS X again, and wipe the drive clean; it may help if the drive wasn't physically damaged."
"I have to wait. We have another storm now."
"Did you unplug the computer?"
"No."
I now rolled my eyes.
These things would be so much easier to fix if she lived near-by.
The other exchange we had was over "AppleCare," their extended warranty program. I never got it on a desktop, but I did this last time around, as my G5 tower has a liquid cooled processor core.
I suggested my parents get it. You have a year after you buy the machine to buy the extra coverage.
"Did you buy the AppleCare?"
"No."
"Why not? I told you to."
"We didn't buy it, OKAY."
Then I rubbed it in. "Well, if you have to get the drive replaced, you're going to have to drive down to the mall and carry it in."
"WE can't do that. I don't want your dad to strain himself."
"So, if you had the AppleCare, they overnight you a box; you put the computer in, and it goes to them... and in 2 days, you get a working computer."
"How much does that cost?"
"Nothing; it's part of the AppleCare service."
"Why don't we have that?"
"You're cheap. I gotta go, Mom..."
Comments
Your parents bought you expensive computers when you couldn't afford one, and now she is asking for some tech support and you poured a bucket of cold water all over her for getting frustrated finding an ingredient for gazpacho you didn't remember? Self-centered and not very admirable.
I would wager that many of us treated our parents poorly in retrospect when we get older. Teenagers thoughout time go through enough hormonal changes that we get disagreeable and mean. I was no different.
Unconditional love comes from parents and children, but its not ironclad. I have issues with my mother that I'm not going to share here on the Web, but I will briefly say that there are issues, and before you judge me as the mean one, you ought to at least take the full picture into account.
Lastly, I'd hope you understand by now that what I share here online is meant to entertain. If you felt I treated my mother poorly, then the effect should be "my gosh, look how the Admiral treated his mom! Wow!" but not to feel sorry for her. I exaggerate, add detail, and bend truth, to make a good story.
Loosen up.
Your story is definitely interesting, well written, entertaining and full of drama, but my impression for the writer (you) has definitely altered. George in Seinfield is entertaining, but if I have a friend like George, that's a different story.