Those who pay close attention, or who have nothing better to do in July, may have noticed that I missed a day posting on this blog on Saturday.That hasn’t happened for a few years now.I think maybe I ‘m growing up.Or learning to resist.Saturday was a travel day—the first I had to make from Pennsylvania, back to Newark in order to fly to Washington state and drive a few hours to the lake.All in all, it turned out to be a long day in which I didn’t even notice that I was unplugged.I had a book that I read along the way.Although it’s against my religion—(call it Moby)—(but I jest)—I even fell into a cat nap or two on the plane.I didn’t have a window seat and strangers don’t like you staring in their direction for five hours at a time.
Upon awaking, eyes refusing at first to work in tandem, in the chill mountain air, I realized I’d spent the entire day off the internet.We had to pull out at 2:30 a.m. to meet TSA requirements, and you have to pay for the privilege of connecting to the web in airports and on board jets.I’ve become so accustomed to being wired that I feel I have to explain why I wasn’t able to post a few thoughts when circumstances were so adverse to getting tangled in the world-wide web.Yes, it still has a few gaps where one might buzz through without being caught.
It was remarkably freeing to be unplugged.I believe Morpheus may be correct that they want us to believe reality is otherwise.I feel guilty for not checking email manically.What if someone requires something right away?Some sage response to a communique that just can’t wait until I’m back from vacation?Some reason that I must ask to be inserted back into the matrix if just for a few moments, to hit the reply button?We’ve perhaps been exposed to what The Incredibles 2 calls the Screenslaver, the force that draws our gaze from even the beauty of a mountain lake to the device in our hand, whining for attention.We have wifi here, of course, for the fantasy of living raw is sustainable for only a few hours at a time.Reality, as you know if you’re reading this, is electronic.But until I have to reinsert myself at the cost of my soul, I think I’m going to take a dip in the lake.
