When logic doesn't work

I should have seen the warning signs months ago, but I chose to ignore them, because I was so starry-eyed, hopeful, and smitten. We were still in the honeymoon stage, about to enter our ninth month together. We were inseparable. I could tell Luis was jealous, but he understood that I needed this diversion, even if it meant time away from him. I experienced a level of stability and performance that I'd never known before. The ride was thrilling, challenging, always something new to explore each day. I'd marvel at the stark difference in my past relationships, even get giddy sometimes.

And then, just in the past two weeks, I started noticing the erratic behavior, the lack of communication, unresponsiveness, the shutting down without warning. I thought the situation would right itself if I left it alone, but it didn't. I turned to self-help books, which were reassuring and helpful, but I suspected my situation was not like the ones they described. In an act of desperation I turned to friends for help. They told me not to worry, everything would be all right, this sort of thing happens all the time. I was sure they were right. For a short while everything seemed fine, as if nothing had ever happened. But within a day the problems started again. This time I sought professional help.

I went to the Genius Bar in SoHo.

The very helpful Apple counselor took my iBook from me and promised to get it the help it needed. The hard drive appeared to be corrupted and would probably have to be replaced. I should have known. Strangely enough, I had backed up almost all of my data files to an external hard drive a week earlier, something I had never done before. Intuition? Who knows?

A few days ago I got a call from the Apple Store. My iBook was rehabbed and ready to come home. I was guardedly excited. After a relaxing brunch and movie with Luis, Simon, Glenn, and MAK, I took a deep breath and headed to the Apple Store. I had missed my iBook so much, and I was hoping this time things would work out between us. When the Genius Bar concierge called my name, I walked cautiously over to it. Outwardly it looked the same, but I could tell that inside it was clean. It booted up the way it always did, went through the initial setup, and let me log in. But when the machine tried to connect to the store's wireless server, there was nothing. It wouldn't communicate. My heart sank.

The genius said that the almost nonexistent wireless signal might have to do with a poorly seated Airport card or a lot of people in the store drafting off the connection. He spent quite a bit of time trying various diagnostics, but he couldn't get a straight answer out of my iBook.

"I'm a little concerned," he said. "I need to take it in the back and try out a few things."

About half an hour later he returned, cradling my iBook in his arms. "I'm sorry to tell you this," he said, "but I think you have a faulty logic card."

I creased my brow. "Is that serious?"

"Yes," he said gravely. "We're going to have to replace the board and keep the computer for another 7 to 10 days."

"OK," I said weakly, "if that's what you have to do."

"Since this is a repeat repair, I'm going to have them expedite it, so it probably won't take that long."

Another week without my iBook. Well, I'd gotten through the first week OK. But a second week?

"Thank you for being so thorough," I said.

I looked at the work order showing the cost of repairs. The hard drive repair had already cost $400, and replacing the logic board would cost over $700. I had to look ahead, put the problems behind me. But this time I wouldn't get so attached. I'd be a lot more careful, protect myself .

As I left the Apple Store and put the work order in my pocket, I breathed a sigh of relief. At least my iBook is still under warranty.