Note: I wrote this a week ago, but considered not posting it. Really, like most posts on here, it is just my personal thoughts and any responses are appreciated!
As I sit at my desk, a little greasy as the shower doesn’t currently work, I realize that I have a new appreciation of what life is today w/all of our technology. We (well I) take it for granted until it is no longer there. Being w/out power for nearly/over 24 hours has been a lesson in quietness and living life slow.
I am at my desk to complete some homework that I had to have my Dad drive me to a coffee shop in town just to retrieve. I am literally doing it via flashlight. Keeping my iPhone on airplane mode to conserve the battery so I can view the downloaded homework. The bummer of this is that I have no data service to download that document I overlooked when reading over what was needed hurriedly at the coffee shop. Despite a couple of desperate attempts, I will have to look it over at the school tomorrow.
The bonus hidden in this struggle is that I hear my family downstairs playing catchphrase. Not competitively, just for the sake of guessing and experiencing life together. We have spent the day together, all a little dirty, but raw. No TV, Xbox, Internet, heat, running water or anything that the harnessing of electricity brings to our plush American lives. We have had to communicate, verbally, all day long. We have come together when we needed to empty the freezer because it was beginning to defrost its contents. To shovel out each of the cars needed to get off the hill for life to begin anew tomorrow (this included a large portion of the driveway, giving me a workout that is beyond needed). We have realized the benefits of living together, under one roof, beyond simply sharing the costs of living. Being family is exactly what today has been, simple being together.
I know that my Dad, brother-in-law and myself have enjoyed the simplicity this day has brought. Allowing for a complete disconnection from work and the busy lives we have to lead outside of these walls. Emails are only responded to if absolutely needed as they can take 5 minutes to send via phones. It took me nearly 15 minutes of monitoring my phone to send 3 emails, and my phone died a mere 20 minutes later. The disconnection has been wonderful.
So, I sit here, completely disconnected from the world outside these walls. Enjoying the laughter and discussion taking place downstairs. Doing my homework by flashlight.
