I know what withdrawal feels like. Even though I am not addicted to any substances, illicit or otherwise, and even though I do not smoke or drink even a little bit, I know what withdrawal feels like. I know what it feels like to be jonesin’ for a fix (in drug vernacular). You see I lost my home Internet connection for 24 hours. 24 hours without Facebook, 24 hours without email, my preferred method of communication. 24 hours of mindless time wasting entertainment site surfing. 24 hours without being able to research almost any topic I am interested in or plan my upcoming holidays on the internet. I wonder the house aimlessly looking for things to do, not really feeling like doing anything. Other interests didn’t interest and chores seemed like, well, such a chore.
The house was all cleaned, the beds made, the dishes done by 9:00 a.m. “It’s a good thing I’m going out later today,” I mutter to myself “Or I will go completely mad.” You see, I’m a writer and – gasp – housewife. So I spend hours of time at home, alone, with only the cat and the Internet for company. Probably way too many hours at home and probably way too many hours on the Internet. Sure there’s TV, and I acknowledge the fact that Internet is a cultural wasteland but do you know what is on daytime television? Talk shows, game shows and soaps, none of which interest me in the slightest. (Sure that’s all I need – get hooked on a soap and then when my satellite and Internet both go down simultaneously, I’ll have double withdrawal syndrome. Then I can spend my time worrying about the fake people in my life instead of dealing with my own stuff: Oh, what is happening to Buffy on As the Stomach Turns? Will she re-unite with Biff? Gag me, my stomach IS turning just thinking about it). Crossing Jordan saved me from complete gags-ville that day.
I’m of an age that I do remember life before the Internet but barely. ‘Course then I was working full time and had little time to spare in the evenings and weekends. Then there was the fact that I didn’t have a home computer until I married a systems analyst in 1996. We now have two – – His and Hers, just like our bathrooms, and sometimes the same stuff comes out of both!
I do have other “interests” honest – I love to read - crime drama, chick-lit, mysteries, legal drama, medical dramas, and I love fitness, the performing arts, writing, night time television, and cooking. My Facebook profile says so, so it must be true. If only I could access it.
