Meet My Blackie

This lilliputian, Asus Eee1005HA, not much larger than my Bible, cell phone, and mug, has made my writing life more consistent—even when I am out of home base, where my workroom is, and away from my longtime trusty desktop.            
    

Blackie (I would have wanted Pinkie, but it wasn’t pink enough; black is as black as it can get) weighs only one pound. So aching shoulder notwithstanding, I can carry it with minimum effort wherever I go—including the waiting room of my doctor’s clinic. It fits right in my tote bags. And the greater news is, the battery lasts up to 10.5 hours so I need not lug along the cables.

I hadn’t budgeted for a new laptop. But my sister Aie’s conked out, and when I heard her say she'll just go to the Internet Café for her e-needs, I was distraught.

Aie is in full-time ministry; and she is a channel of grace in remote parts of the country and the world, or wherever she goes—she needs a laptop more than I do. It was the easiest decision I ever made—handing her over mine.

Then our resident IT, JC, said there is a tiny netbook that won’t cost me an arm and a leg (meaning, all I need is forgo my daily snacks), which I could buy on installment with zero interest. It also answers my list for an ideal, spare, out-of-home computer.

Blackie, you’re on.

(Addendum: Blackie was certainly on yesterday in church. When I got there half hour too early, our Pastor was frantically looking for the church laptop. Earlier, he said, a well-dressed lady had inquired about service schedules. But now, there was no trace of her, nor of the laptop! Blackie took the job on. Nothing—not theft, not storm—could diminish the fervor of worship.)