Mom has died.
October 13, 2023
She died at 12:00 p.m., October 13, 2013, at the age of eighty-five.
Dr. Leberthon kept his word and saved her from pneumonia. She died of cardiac arrest, which occurred after she went into a coma. Her death was very peaceful. She simply stopped.
Thank you, Dr. Leberthon. Another miracle. You saved Mom from suffocating. I’m very grateful.
I’ll see you again, Mom. I’m doing as you asked and trying to get my writing career in order. I know you said last week you wanted to learn how to use computers when you came home, but believe me, YOU’RE MISSING NOTHING.
The next time we get together, I’ll tell you about the truly amazing chain of events of the past two days. Indians who don’t speak English changing my hosting service without telling me. Discovering that on my domain registration, someone had changed my e-mail address to one in Brazil. Paying a fat Dutchman $89 for “premium support” and being completely ignored. Having a Frenchwoman tell me she’d fixed everything and finding out she flat-out lied, as though I’m a three-year-old who’d smile and toddle off to bed. It’s a veritable United Nations of sleaze.
In other words, it’s exactly like the United Nations.
No, computers are the one thing in existence that would’ve made you angry enough to use your cane as a truncheon. Remember how crazy Dad got when I was teaching him how to use his computer? And he was an engineer! You never even learned how to operate a VCR.
It would’ve been fun seeing you surf the ‘Net, though. You never got to see my Website. Guess what? NOBODY ELSE ON EARTH HAS SEEN IT EITHER. It’s completely invisible. I can write anything I want here, with no repercussions. Very, very liberating.
Oh. My. God. I just realized something: You would’ve become a troll. Yup. There’s no doubt in my mind. That sweet demeanor hid a flame-war artist. The second you got online, you would’ve unleashed the Kraken. The cyber world doesn’t know the bullet it just dodged.
Good-bye, Mom. Next time will be better.
I promise.
