Being elderly and suffering from severe arthritis, I have had to make some concessions in order to use my Web-TV. Since I can't see comfortably from my recliner, I sit in my wheelchair about four feet from the TV. I hold the keyboard in my left hand, while I type like the wind with my right. Eleven months of this -- and I was using it a lot! -- have affected my left arm and shoulder. They hurt like heck!

Louise found an old TV stand in the garage. She brought it in and I am now able to place the keyboard on the table and rest my left arm -- most of the time!

Enter Precious. She is the cat who cannot bear to be separated from me. She accompanies me to and from the bathroom, into and out of the kitchen, and is generally within arm's reach! She loves to nap on the kitchen table while I eat, pay bills, whatever. If I have moved to the living room and she wakes up and cannot immediately see me, she cries. I answer her and she runs to me, happy that I am still there for her.

She has found the TV stand and is delighted to have this way of being closer to me. She leaps up onto the stand, meowing joyously; and settles down behind the keyboard, completely blocking my access to Web-TV.

I love her with a passion and would not move her for anything. But guess what? I am "still" holding the darn keyboard!

Copyright © Renee Darvin
August 4, 2000