Yesterday I disconnected myself, for the day. I didn’t log on to my computer (it stayed powered down for the day) and I put away my phone. I felt odd and I could feel my fingers itch to log on and at least check on my Facebook page. I mean that is a site to stay connected to family and friends. Never mind that I usually get caught up spiraling out by clicking on the various links that family and friends post. Then I find that an hour or so has passed and I didn’t actually accomplish anything in that hour. Well, I usually find something I can relate to or advice to use in my writing.
Yesterday though, I didn’t allow myself to log on or in to anything but family time. I took my mom to the library where I wandered through the stacks of books and mom went directly to the mystery aisles. I found myself enamored once again by the feel, scent and sights of wandering through the aisles of adventures just waiting to be had. The simple act of opening a book has the power to transport you to distant lands, unexplored universes and hidden realms. I love the library, I always have and always will. But if I continue with that thought I’ll forget what I was originally writing about.
We left the library with books and a book tote bag that I bought for mom. A great start to the day of disconnection. We arrived home with just enough time to do a bit of cleaning before everyone else arrived. When my sister came in with her kids (two that feel like four), we all changed into swim suits and headed out to the pool to soak up some sun while reveling in the fun.
Swimming with a four-year old is an adventure in and of itself. My nephew is a water baby to say the least. Once he is in the water he just does not want to get out. I heard “JoJo look at me”, “Watch me JoJo”, Let’s go into the deep end JoJo”, and I loved every second of it. My niece thoroughly enjoyed herself as long as she had physical contact with her mom at all times. She loves the water but is not too confident that the water wings are going to really hold her above the water.
After water sneezes, many laps, water noodle fun, general sun soaking, and much fun, it was time to go home. Which is merely driving down the street back to the apartment. Yeah driving because it was too hot to walk. Dinner time was another adventure, full of “Sit and finish your dinner first”, “No”, “Careful or you’re going to drop something again”, fun times. After getting refueled, the kids ran amok (in a good way) through the apartment.
From drawing on the white marker board to the Great Stuffed Animal Wars, to the taking out the coins and putting them back into the crayon coin bank, more fun. They had fun until we were all thoroughly worn out. Worn out in a warm, great, wonderful way.
When it was time for the visitors to get on their way home it was to the tune of, “oh Mom, do we really have to go?” – four-year old kids seem to have an endless abounding energy. (That is until they get in the car after an adventuring day and the car’s motion soothes them to sleep.) Good-byes and hugs were exchanged, they went home and the apartment felt too quiet.
Well, that’s it and there it is, my tale of disconnection. I loved it so much that I decided there will one day a week where I will not log into cyber space, my computer or the phone. I feel refreshed today.
