As a tech writer, I test and review a lot of phones and gadgets, but I rarely put them back in a drawer when I’m done. I live my everyday life with these same gadgets that I write about. They accompany me on fun outings and cool vacations, they save memories of my favorite moments, they point the way when I’m in unknown territory, and they help me stay in touch with my family and friends. They’re also there when tragedy hits and my whole life is thrown for a loop. (I’m sorry if you didn’t expect this dreary topic shift when you started reading.)
Tragedy hit two Sundays ago. One heartbreaking call and my husband’s and my life were changed forever. We dropped everything and booked the next flight back home to Beirut, Lebanon. Two weeks later, I am nowhere near healed, but life must go on. And even during these rough days, my tech-loving side was always humming in the background. Call it denial or resilience, it doesn’t matter, but I was often making mental notes, analyzing the usefulness of certain devices and features that accompanied me on this tough journey.