Life without cell service and wifi conjures images of rustic solitude. Perhaps a throwback to the days when telephones with cords hung on the kitchen wall, long distance calls were a splurge, mail arrived many days after a letter was written (in cursive) and news wasn’t available 24/7. (Do you detect a hazy golden glow?)

Time does take on a more leisurely pace when one is removed from our hyper-connected world. No text alerts, breaking news notifications, emails to read. These are habits (addictions?) that are not easy to break. More time and attention, however, are available for the here and now. If you are fortunate enough to be in a place of spectacular natural beauty, it is amazing to truly take note and be present. It is a relief to not be constantly made aware of the shenanigans of our elected officials, of disasters we cannot prevent, of suffering that we cannot alleviate.

But the title of this blog also includes the word sorrows..hmmm? I quickly become aware of how spoiled I am because it is so easy to keep in touch with my friends and family! It is hard to wait to hear how things are going and to share great experiences. We miss the instant gratification of answering any question that pops to mind…what is that flower? What is the spawning season of salmon?

Sometimes it’s down right inconvenient to not have the answer. What’s the weather forecast? Should I pack my rain gear? Where is the next gas station ⛽️? How far is it to the border? What are the museum hours?

These days many things come without a manual due to the assumption that you can just “look it up on line” or watch a YouTube video. For example my bike derailleur stopped working. Try figuring out how to repair a device without a manual, a phone or internet service. Arrgh!

Sometimes its even dangerous to not have information available. Is the road closed due to wildfire? Is the river flooding?

Sigh. Well, I will send this off next time I am connected 😏. And thank you all for your encouraging comments. I haven’t had enough service to respond individually but enjoy each one! A bit of a tragic update…our freezer won’t keep ice cream frozen so Jim has to wait for the next cafe stop for ice cream!! YIKES! Withdrawls!

In the meantime I guess I will just have to relax, read a book, watch the scenery, watch the meteor shower toight…you get the picture. It will all work out 🥱💙.