iRumor Turns to iWish Come True!

Many, many months ago, chatter about a new MacBook began appearing on the numerous geek blogs Rob follows. And I say "geek" with all the appropriate respect. Rob started dreaming, but tried to keep his hopes from soaring. After all, it was only an iRumor. And we'd just purchased my iMac with the intent that we were not buying him a new computer any time soon. Soon after the rumors started, however, Rob's computer started making suspicious groaning noises. Other things seemed to go awry as well. I took a deep breath and realized that his computer was on the verge of falling apart.

In our family, we don't share computers. It's one way we maintain a happy marriage.

Conveniently, our friendly US government decided to send us an economic stimulus check just about this time. I voiced the idea of putting it into savings. The computer groans seemed to get more intense, and the computer seemed even closer to absolute collapse. Convenient, indeed. I took a deep breath again and realized that there was no getting out of it - President Bush wanted us to spend that check, and Rob wanted it to be spent at the Apple store. So then the waiting began.

There were rumblings on the blogs about an early August release of the new MacBook. Rob dreamed of opening up a new MacBook for his birthday. Then as July approached, the rumors started to point to September. Well, that would be okay, Rob thought - he'd get a new computer with his new baby. But September came without an announcement from Steve Jobs. Finally, one glorious day in October, Apple confirmed that changes were coming in the MacBook, and that the formal announcement would be on October 14 at 1:00 p.m.

October 14 started early for Rob. He woke up at 6:00 a.m., giddy as a little boy on Christmas morning. Unable to get back to sleep, he went into work at 6:30. About 2:00, as Ellie and I were at the zoo with Monica and Pratt, Rob called. Good news - the new MacBook was going to be incredible. Bad news - it wouldn't be in stores until the following day. Rob asked me to call the Apple store and ask if the computers were in, just in case. They were not.

October 15 started even earlier for Rob. He woke up at 5:00 a.m., knowing that today was the day his iWish would come true. Unable to get back to sleep again, he went into work. Arrived at his desk at 5:45 a.m. Still unable to let reality sink in, Rob asked me to call again to make sure our Apple store had received the shipment of shiny new MacBooks. They had.

At 3:30 p.m. Rob called me again. He couldn't wait, he was leaving work immediately and heading to the Apple store, and did we want to meet him for the big moment. We did. So I piled both kiddos in the car and off we went. The Apple store only had one new MacBook on display, and Rob started to panic a bit. We found Steve the Salesman, who confirmed that the 13 inch MacBooks were in stock, but they had sold out of the higher end model earlier in the day. Good thing our economic stimulus check only allowed us to buy the cheaper model, or it would have been a pretty sad day! Steve the Salesman started selling, not realizing that he was speaking to a geek blog follower who knew more about the computer than he did. Finally, Steve brought out the gorgeous box and rang us up. And out we went. There's just no feeling in the world quite like carrying a new Mac out of the Apple store. Buyer's remorse is just not possible.

So life is pretty great around here. Yesterday, Rob sat in the family room watching the Buckeyes destroy Michigan State while he played on his MacBook. Can you think of a more perfect day? Just look at his face in this picture, taken upon our arrival home from the Apple store - talk about all your dreams coming true and living happily ever after!

Congrats, Rob. You deserve it!