My laptop is fried.  Gonzo.  Done.  Motherboard toast.  (Motherboard sounds like a horrible curse to me.)  Anyhow, when it happened I sort of sat at the kitchen table (it was pitch dark - 4:30 a.m- which might sound weird but that’s when I do a lot of writing) and my mouth hung open and my stomach felt sick and I was totally STUNNED. 

Later, from an older, inferior, less capable, non-wireless laptop, I wrote to the people I needed to stay in touch with (via email) and informed them of the disaster.  I think I said:  “worse things could happen - like cannibalistic vikings invading my home -” but I didn’t REALLY think that too many worse things could happen (cuz I didn’t know if my all my writing stuff had disappeared on that mother&*%^^board)… but it got me to thinking about the delusions we have.  Some are dumb.  (Like these ones):

“My laptop will NEVER go.  Thus, I’ll worry about backing up later….”

“My tires wouldn’t DARE pop while I’m driving.  I don’t want to learn to change one…”

or…. like a recent blog, the all too common Speedo delusion.  “I can wear a Speedo…  I look hot…”

But some delusions AREN’T dumb.  Consider these:

Max thought that his knuckles (which he called nipples) were going to sprout Wolverine claws.  He checked every morning for months for them to pop out.  This false belief did not hurt him & ultimately when it didn’t happen, he didn’t freak out.  We talked about it & decided it would be a PITA to have sharp edges on your hands.

Sam, my athlete extraordinaire, is convinced he’s the best at everything.  My son totally rocks.  He’s 9 and has competed in a multitude of triathlons… He’s on the swim team and has win ribbons galore… Every single day he blows me away with his determination and skill - but he ISN’T the best at all things athletic.  Someone once mentioned to me that it would be good for him to know he probably won’t make it to the Tour de France AND be the NHL all star.  Why the HELL, I have to wonder, would that be GOOD for him?  Shouldn’t we cultivate these delusions if they are the catalysts of dreaming and fulfilling goals and continued dedication to get better?

Max is currently convinced that he has two loose teeth.  He wants to lose a tooth so so so badly (a couple of the Kindergarten buddies have - he doesn’t want the tooth-fairy to miss him) - the thing is that he DOESN’T have loose teeth.  When he wiggles his tooth, his finger is the only thing that moves.

So, I guess as long as they don’t include laptops & speedos, the rose colored life delusions work just fine for me.  What are your delusions? 

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 26th, 2008 at 7:55 am. You can leave a comment below.