I jumped off the superhighway this weekend to nurse a debilitating data gorge and hangout old school with my family and friends.
With no WiFi at our cabin, I had to put down my smart phone, and give the real world a good look-see. Here’s what happened:
- I reacquainted myself with Monopoly during a rousing campfire game. Eventually, dew soaked the board, while my robber baron sister in-law ran it. I would have been miffed at the ridiculous amount of time I spent in jail, but one little nephew kept placating me with his special chocolate roasted marshmallows, and the other little nephew kept cutting me deals. An eight-year old that will play a board game for three straight hours? Sweet.
- I shared a large flat raft with my son’s lovely girlfriend and tried to pretend my side hadn’t sunk lower in the river. “We’re taking on water!” I said. “It’s coming in on both sides,” she kindly fibbed.
- I played inner tube water charades, a game my nephew and I invented, and it went swimmingly.
- I bonded with a sandhill crane who, lured, I imagine, by our freshly buttered sweet corn, strolled right up to our cabin during a meal.
- I said good morning (and please be safe) to a regal eight-point buck.
I’m back in the civilized world of WiFi now, which is a relief. It’s so much easier to feign vast general knowledge when you can tag along with your best friend Google. But, I’m better, frecklier and perhaps even a little wiser for my weekend break from my smartphone.
