This is one of those moments when my mind ran about a hundred yards ahead of me and took me on a wild goose chase. A few days ago, when I was working hot and heavy on the taxes, I noticed some of my files on my new laptop had a red “x” on the upper left corner of the icon. I really didn’t take time to figure out what was going on because I had other fish to fry. When the taxes were finally completed Saturday, and I took a much needed day of rest on Sunday, I dove back in to the computer to find out what was going on.

After checking, it seemed all of the files had some connection to OneDrive…Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iCloud. Upon further investigation, I discovered Windows 10 automatically sets up OneCloud (ok, there may have been something I checked off when I set up the computer but at this point, I’ve forgotten). All of your pictures, documents, backups…you know…IMPORTANT stuff heads to outer space to be stored in some server somewhere. It was SO enticing, this “free” service Microsoft provided you. (Ok, now I remember…I DID make a choice. *sigh*) Did it occur to me what would happen once my laptop started vomiting 13,000 photos into a bunch of zeros and ones and that free storage was eaten up? Oh, heck no!

Eat it up it did and somewhere around the time I was backing up Quicken and TurboTax, I got a little message. “Your OneCloud is full.” When I finally got back to it yesterday morning, I went on the Microsoft site and looked for help. Reading the directions meant nothing. I went on chat. I was “number 64…please don’t move away from this page or you’ll lose your place in line.” An hour later, “Czar Niña”…I kid you not, that was the name…came on and tried to help me. Turn this off. Disconnect that. Reboot.

“If I reboot, I’ll lose you!” I said.

“Don’t worry…I’ll be here.” the Czar typed back.

I rebooted.

Gone.

*sigh*

I tried again and got Emil.

Emil said, “Just delete all the files with a red x.”

Are you KIDDING me??? That represents about two years of work!

“That is not an option.” I typed back.

“Well, then,” he tapped away. “Save this link and call tomorrow and you can buy premium services and we can climb into your computer and fix that bad boy for only $149 a year!” Really, I’m paraphrasing here.

“Thanks, Emil! Catch ya later!” Click.

Along about this time, I wondered what would happen if I actually clicked on the files with the red x. Would my computer die? Would there be anything there? Would I do some harm to the delicate balance of the ozone layer? Would I kill a butterfly in the Sahara? What the heck…I’ve come this far.

Click.

Everything was there. It seems, if you want the red x to go away, you have to buy the upgraded storage, which…of course…I had already done by this time. I am “syncing” 13,000+ photos and documents to an unknown climate controlled electronic box somewhere in India that I forked out $72 and change for so that Microsoft would stop holding my data hostage when it was there all along.

*heavy sigh*

I don’t know…I think I’d pass on the OneCloud thingy if you have more than fifty or so pictures of your cats because you just may never see Fluffy again without paying the big bucks!

But, the real moral of the story is…I failed, yet again, to be present and not let panic rush over me. Remembering first that God is with me and He will help me, even when my Gemini grief-brain takes me off chasing rabbits. It would have saved me a lot of unnecessary angst yesterday.

“Lord, help me remember You are there.” Amen ❤️

“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬