Last Wednesday I flew from Denver to Chicago, hung around O’Hare long enough to have frozen yogurt, walk a few miles from one concourse to another and then walk another half-mile when my gate was changed, and finally take that cute little commuter flight to central Illinois. Since then, the weather has become increasingly hot and humid, but no fierce thunderstorms or tornadoes yet. They’ll probably show up about the time I’m scheduled to fly out again.
Most of you know I’m visiting my mom and brother in Illinois for a few days. I make this trip about twice a year, but try to avoid the storm season. My favorite time of the year in the Midwest is fall when the air is crisp, the trees red and yellow, and the air smells like burning leaves.
Well, the burning leaves part is a long-ago memory because folks aren’t allowed to do that anymore, at least not in town.
While I’m at my mom’s, I have to use dial-up with my less-than-speedy laptop, which is one of the reasons I don’t spend any time reading and commenting on blogs. That reminds me of the good old days when we had no choice but to use dial-up.
So then I count my blessings because I only need to travel a few more years into the past to have no Internet at all. No e-mail. No blogs. No Twitter or Facebook.
And that reminded me of one of the friends I’ll meet tomorrow for lunch — an old friend from grade school (yep, early 1950s, kids). She has decided e-mail and the Internet serve no purpose in her life and she gave ’em up. Yep. Just turned off and tuned out. I had to call her on the telephone to arrange lunch.
I can’t even imagine giving up the Internet. If someone turned off my access, I think I’d go into withdrawal. It would be like giving up coffee or chocolate. Maybe worse.
And that brings me to the session I had with my brother this morning during which I taught him how to load the photos from his camera onto his computer. We hit a snag, though. The photo editing software on his computer won’t open and run, and he can’t find the CD-ROM that came with the camera which has the appropriate photo-editing software on it. Now I’m looking for a free download that won’t take up tons of space on his computer. All he needs is the ability to crop and resize his photos. Any suggestions?
Now while little brother is busily cooking kabobs on his grill, I’m going to sit in one of Mom’s cozy chairs and read a little more of In the Woods by Tana French. It’s a former Edgar winner, a suspenseful cop tale set in Ireland.
Wednesday will be another travel day but I’ll pre-schedule another exciting post so you all don’t forget I’m here.
Have a wonderful time! Oh my – the thought of doing without coffee, chocolate and/or internet – yikes!!! The mind boggles, lol!
Nancy, from Realms of Thought…
I think I could only survive a short time without internet, too. I enjoyed “In the Woods,” so much I am now reading her second book, “The Likeness.” Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.
Hope you’re having a great trip and enjoying your family time!
Enjoy your family vacation and your internet reprieve. Sometimes it’s okay to disconnect for a day or two.
Have a great time.
I’d go nuts without the Internet. I *need* it.
Your comments about no email etc. reminds me how I’ve downsized as you know from my blog. No more direcTV. No expensive cell phone (just an inexpensive one for when I’m away from my daughter or we travel, which isn’t much anymore). etc etc. I’m halfway back to the Fifties now without all these distractions, just wonderful books to read and opportunities for old-fashioned conversation.
Sounds like you’re enjoying your trip. My memories of Illinois: my sister and brother-in-law in Naperville for forty years, who both passed away untimely; two years ago for him, five months for my younger sister, age 66. (Left behind 8 children and many grandchildren.) I’m going to have to have a little chat with her about going on December 27th. Zero degrees in the Chicago area. Blizzards. Thought I’D die getting out there for the funeral! You don’t do Illinois in the winter. Spring is the lovely time of year there, early spring, that is, minus the heavy humidity.
Look forward to your next post….
Enjoy your family time! That’s the important stuff 🙂
I think giving up the Internet would be so much more than difficult. Yikes. Might have nightmares tonight 🙂
Hi Patricia,
Hope you enjoy your visit with your family and childhood friend. Yep. The hot and humid weather reared its ugly head in Eastern Missouri over the weekend, too. We tied a record for hottest day at 92 degrees. Thank goodness for air conditioning.
Donna
http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com
Enjoy the time with your family, Patricia. Withdrawal can be a good thing, sometimes. And oh, you are not forgettable, so no worries there. I read the book you are currently reading and loved it. HOpe you do, too.
Karen
When I visit my husband’s parents, who live in the boonies, I’m cut off from internet. Oh boy, what a withdrawl period for me. Currently I live in a city of 6 million and when I go down to a town of 3500, it’s like I’m marooned on an island. I panic when the stores close at six. I shop the little grocery store everyday just in case I might need something after hours. Not sure what I’d do if I had to live there permanently.
CD
Pleased you’re haveing a good time.
Look forward to your return.
Take care.
Yvonne.
Sounds like your trip is going well. Have fun and a safe travel day Wednesday.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Have a wonderful time with your family and enjoy the time away from the hustle and bustle of social media for a while.
I use picassa. He could try that. I am constantly loading photos – his computer probably has some program that happens somewhat automatically. Picassa is good because you can choose which albums to make public. Oh this stuff never ends. Thanks to dear Elizabeth S-C, I’m going to be spending all day trying to figure out the tweeting world. YIKES!