Studio Blog

I wanted to provide an update about the laptop I was awarded last year. I submitted my request for the laptop because of my aging mother. I live in Northern California in the mountains west of Lake Tahoe. My mother lives in Alpine, California in San Diego County, more than 540 miles away. To be able to visit her and still work, I needed a laptop, which I did not have. I was extremely pleased to learn I had won the laptop in 2011.

Right now I am writing to you from it as I ready my mother to move in with me. The laptop has been a godsend, because I’ve been in Southern California three weeks now and have been able to care for my invalid mother and still work. She’ll be 85 this year and she is primarily bedridden, though her mind is intact. Because I have the laptop, I didn’t have to worry about finding a way to work as I ready her for the move. It took me awhile to adjust to the updated Windows and Office programs on it, but I find that I use my laptop exclusively now that I’ve past the learning curve. It has more storage than my desktop computer and the exterior storage I had combined. I’ve also used it at night to watch programs on Hulu.com as I make the transition from my day’s work to sleep.

It’s a gift that has kept on giving for me. The laptop award has allowed me the option to take the time I need to pack up my mother and her belongings for the journey to my home. Because she is on continuous oxygen, this process has taken much longer than I expected, as I make those arrangements. In just a week, I will have been here for an entire month. Without the laptop, this would not have been possible.

I just wanted the DMS staff to know how much I appreciate my laptop and how well it has benefited me in my work.

I am so grateful for it and the continued opportunity to write and edit for DMS.

Thank you.

Laurie J. Brenner
Freelance editor, writer and author