Everything is Figureoutable

It was Marie Forleo who said it. “Everything is figureoutable.” I wish I could remember that. I even have it on a post-it note on my computer. Today the sun is shining and Hewlett-Packard is working with me to get the computer back where it should be. It’s a process, but it’s happening.

Yesterday after George couldn’t figure out what the issue was or how to fix it he got the serial number off the bottom of the computer and the HP customer support number and called them. Of course this computer was purchased in 2015 so the warranty had expired but for a mere $42 for fixing this one issue — and it’s good for 30 days, you can call back numerous times to get things squared away — they helped us get it figured out. The maddening thing is that the problem was caused by an automatic update from Microsoft, I hadn’t done anything wrong, but I still had to pay to get it fixed. Nevertheless I was just grateful for the help and that it hadn’t been hundreds of dollars to get the job done.

After trying numerous things it was deemed that the only thing that could be done was to wipe the hard-drive clean and start over. As I am meticulous about backing everything up to DropBox all of my files, photos, etc., were safe but it’s still quite a process. They kept getting me going on the next step which might have taken 30-60 minutes and then calling them back. By last night I had my Chrome browser, Dropbox, and Microsoft Word and a few other things back but as the computer was restored to it’s factory settings it went back to Windows 8. This morning the HP tech has taken remote control of the computer and is installing Windows 10. This is a fascinating process, this remote help, and a godsend. He said my connection wasn’t real fast and it could take up to 4 hours but we are already 50% there. There are some other things that need to be done after Windows 10 is reinstalled but most of everything will have been done. Everything was figureoutable, and for $42!

I am now puttering on this old laptop while “John” from HP has control of the desktop. Maurice will be here soon to work his magic in the yard and Noni will be here later this afternoon for a brief time for a quick dinner. She is mainly coming to bring Canela, her 45 year old amazon parrot that is like a member of the family here. I will be babysitting darling Canela while Noni goes out of town. The computer is getting fixed and life goes on.

I am going to try really hard to remember this, that despite what comes up in life — and I am not talking about devastating life and death kind of traumas or tragedies, but, I suppose, even then to some extent — things are figureoutable, even if the fixes are not quick or easy. In any event life will go on and so must we and we just bumble along and take things step by step. I am deeply grateful to everyone who helped me with this both in person and on the phone. We don’t do anything in life without a support system and I am incredibly grateful for mine, and that includes you if you have left me a note here or on Facebook or emailed, texted, etc. It has been a doozy of a week and it is not lost on me that I wouldn’t have made it without all of my loved ones, near and far. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I will have to go out to greet Maurice momentarily so I will close here. John from HP has control of the desktop and the pugs are snoozing under my desk here. Things should be “back to normal,” whatever passes for normal here, in a few hours.

I will leave you with this. Write this down — Everything is figureoutable — put it on a post-it note, or several post-it notes and stick them everywhere. In the middle of a crisis or everyday problem everything is figureoutable but it’s hard to remember that because you just lose your mind and forget. I hope I won’t forget again. If I do, remind me, will you?