At the Apple Store today I was introduced to the tech who would assist me. I’m going to be honest, SisterRain.net’s promise to you, and tell you that at first glance I was disappointed. My specialist, let’s call her Steph as an homage to Steve Jobs, was older than all her associates and that gave me pause. I know better than to judge a techie by her cover, especially as I myself was probably about the same age as she and I too am adept at devices. But I immediately pronounced her subpar in my mind, having seen all the younger techs buzzing around the store.
I was nervous and after she introduced herself I returned in kind, only the giving of my name and the reason I was there came out in one long sentence with no breath or pause in between words. And my voice was at least three octaves higher than usual due to my anxiety. You see, I mistakenly moved all my emails from the inbox to the trash bin on my iPhone and when I tried to move them all back I couldn’t and found a whole new issue when trying to undo what I had done. Isn’t this always the case? Pandora’s box = Sister Rain’s device du jour.
Steph never batted an eye and nodded throughout my entire dissertation. When I finally did inhale she looked at me and said, “I’m very sorry.” The intake of oxygen supplied my brain with enough power to discern that she wasn’t referring to my technical difficulty but to what I had said in between my name and the description of The Great Trash Debacle of 2016, that I am severely visually impaired. She was profoundly real in her statement and of all the reactions I have received, from both friends and strangers, in regard to the current state of my eyesight, this woman’s stopped me in my tracks.
Although the store was packed, people and their sickly Apple products everywhere, in that moment, the controlled chaos surrounding us disappeared and I was aware of only Steph and myself. I looked her right in the eyes and thanked her with all the genuineness and gratitude I possess. Since the accidental trashing of emails occurred on Thursday I had been talking myself down off the Wall of Doom, assuring myself that emails I have saved for 15 years or more are not important. And in those three words from this stranger I was reminded that your health and the health of those you love is all that matters and to make someone’s day a little better is close behind. Yes, I was hoping for the Doogie Howser technician but as is often the case, I got not only what, but more importantly, WHO, I needed.
Steph was unable to fix my problem. As I suspected the trouble resides with my carrier, Comcast, and so I will have to give them a call. I obviously want a positive outcome of The Great Trash Debacle of 2016 but in all the ways that truly count, Steph has already given me just that.
