MacBook Meltdown: An Act of Melting Memories or Final Attempt at Sparks?

I rushed to the Apple store. The salesperson had never seen a microwaved MacBook before so he immediately called his colleagues over. They laughed and said, “How cool!” The salesperson apologized for laughing and saying, “How cool!” and proceeded to explain how bizarre this was. I simply said, “You’re telling me.” And you know what, he asked me? “What did you do?” I just told him I’m getting a divorce and he’s angry.

When they laughed, I didn’t care. When they said, “How cool,” it didn’t bother me. As an Apple lover, I, too, find it fascinating to look at a microwaved MacBook. But, what did I do? No one or anything deserves this—except a marshmallow for the simple pleasure of melting a Hershey bar between two graham crackers—and that’s for the palate’s amusement, for the heart’s content, for the tummy’s satisfaction.

At this point, I wanted to know if they could recover the data. The took the laptop to the back of the store, conducted an analysis and returned to give me unsatisfactory news. The Apple store was not able to recover my hard drive. The good news—the hard drive may not be a total loss. They referred me to a data recovery store in Santa Ana. Not wanting to lose another minute, I placed my burnt MacBook in its case and rushed out of the store into my car. I immediately called the data recovery business and explained my situation.

“Adam?”

“Yes.”

“The Apple store couldn’t recover the data so I’m taking it to a data recovery store. And I expect you to pay the cost to recover my data. If you put this on your credit card, I expect the debt to be excluded from the community debt that will be divided between us.”

“How much is it going to cost?”

“They said it could cost up to $2,700.”

Silence.

“Adam?”

“I’m here. Do what you need to do and, of course, I’ll pay it.”

“Thanks, Adam.”

“Don’t thank me, Eve. It’s right for me to pay for it and get you a new one. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing any more.”

We hung up and I cried, again.

Guiding Lesson: Eve, what an ordeal. However, I’m glad to see that Adam is taking responsibility and paying for a new laptop. This is the right thing to do. 
As I think about your day, have you stopped to think that Adam’s attempt to microwave your laptop could be viewed in two, probably more, different ways?  He could have done it as an act of final destruction to the marriage or could it also have been a final attempt to create some spark that had died a long time ago. Remember he was drunk plus had other meds in him. His subconscious appears to have been conflicted, angry and filled with grief.

Eve, now about the hard drive–it’s ironic that it could not be fully recovered. Isn’t this like your marriage?  The past has melted away. The good memories can’t be fully recalled. However, you may be able to salvage some good ones that include your children.

Like the laptop, you need to start over. It’s not as easy as Adam buying a new one. No, the new start can’t be purchased and no one can create it. This is going to be up to you along with the grace of God. Here are two quotes that I will leave you with as you begin to build a new life.

Grace

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.
– Richard Bach

It may sound odd, but the fastest way to get to a new-and-improved situation is to make peace with your current situation. By making lists of the most positive aspects you can find about your current situation, you then release your resistance to the improvements that are waiting for  you. – Abraham-Hicks