Disconnected

I am exactly one and a half blocks from civilization.

I am in Iowa this week on business, and am working at a site that is far out into the country. Upon arriving at the site the first day I was shocked to find that my cellphone displayed an unusual message, "No Network Available." Surely I was misreading. Had I gone mad? Had my cell phone provider gone bankrupt? Was there a terrorist attack on the local cell phone tower? I mentioned this to one of the employees of the site and she asked what provider I had. I told her I had AT&T. She said, "Oh no. We're not sophisticated enough way out here to get a big company like that." What?!?

At first, there was the uneasiness: I wouldn't be able to get calls or texts during the day. "Okay, that's cool," I said to myself, "I'll be working all day anyway." Then I started to get a little worried, somewhat panicky. What if someone needed to get hold of me? What if I was having a bad day and needed to text my frustration to a friend? What if the call from that certain someone (you know who you are) didn't come through? I had to face the fact that for four days I would be be disconnected to the world as I know it.

The second morning, I was driving to the site, on a long country road, in the snow, texting away to the aforementioned certain someone. I had texted that I was probably going to lose my cellphone service soon, so if I suddenly didn't respond, that was why. I was amazed that I still had service the closer and closer I got. I was a mile away - still had it. Half a mile away - still texting successfully. Three blocks away - Yes! Could it be that yesterday was a fluke? Was the employee wrong? Then, a block and a half away from my destination, there it was -- "No Network Available." I was officially one and a half blocks from civilization...

This made me think about the dependence to technology to which I have gotten accustomed. Many times I have thought about how nice it would be to just move out to the country where you could be disconnected from the hustle, the bustle, and the bombardment of stimulation from television, the Internet, phones, and radio -- having the ability to take a deep breath and enjoy the silence. But now, here I was worried that I would not be connected to the outside world for eight hour periods, eight hours that I was, for all intents and purposes, going to be otherwise engaged. It's not like I was in a bubble. I was working side-by-side with human beings, several of whom were quite witty and kept me entertained. But here I was fretting about being disconnected from MY world. How did I get to this point..?

There was a time, just a few years ago in fact, that I did not even own a cellphone. I talked to friends only during times when I would be available to be home in order to call them and chat. Then I starting travelling for work, and felt the necessity to have a cellphone, mainly due to the exorbitant cost of calling long distance from a hotel phone. For the first year or so, I only used my phone to call home when I was out of town. Then, I would use it every occasionally when I was in town, calling home from the grocery store to see if I should buy anything specific for dinner. Slowly and steadily, without my being aware, I began using the cellphone more often, and more randomly. I got to a point where it was just part of my life. I even upgraded to a better phone, and signed up for a better plan when I renewed my cellphone service. I now take my phone most places and enjoy the convenience of being able to reach someone, or be reached, anytime that the mood strikes. The phone keeps me connected. I enjoy texting with friends, oftentimes due to the fact that I talk for eight hours a day at work, so being able to communicate to someone across town without having to talk is heaven.

So, where does this bring me? Well, I think this foray into "radio silence" has made me realize three things: 1) survival without a cellphone is possible. I won't shrivel away and disappear if I can't contact family and friends for a day; 2) I won't be forgotten. I needn't worry that I can't get -- or make -- a call or text from friends for a day. We'll talk later. They'll understand. Eight hours does not a friendship break; and 3) I need to work on spending more face-to-face time with friends. In a hectic, agenda filled life, it is so easy to stay connected through a cellphone. But that in-person connection is missing -- seeing a persons face react to your words, seeing their smile, their gestures, their eyes. Feeling their presence close to you. That is what keeps friendships and relationships strong and lasting. I am going to make and effort to meet my friends more often and to further the connection that we have. Of course, I'll need to call or text them to make plans. LOL!

Not having cell phone service this week made me realize the value of human connection. I hope to build greater connections with those I hold dear in my life. If anyone is interested in getting together, CALL ME!

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The music that completes today's look is "Do You Have A Little Time" by Dido.