Finding Nemo or Something Like That
Jay and I returned from our annual post-graduation/pre-Christmas vacation a couple of weeks ago.
Since then, we have been busy with all of the fun hustle and bustle of Christmas and holidays with family and friends. We were completely nuts to arrive home on Sunday the 22nd, leave for Houston the 23rd, come back the 26th and celebrate Christmas with Jay’s family that night. But, I LOVE Christmas, its meaning, family time . . . it really is the most wonderful time of the year!
Only now, sitting in my office on a quiet campus, can I truly reflect on how wonderful our trip was. To borrow the words from Mary Poppins, it was “practically perfect in every way.” We got to see Saving Mr. Banks on our trip so Mary Poppins is quite vogue right now. 🙂
One of the best parts of our trip was our short 3-night Disney Cruise. When we cruise, we look forward to being able to legally disconnect from phones and the Internet. That is, no one really expects you to email or call when on a cruise unless it is an emergency. After all, Internet and phone charges on cruise ships are pretty expensive! Then, to our surprise, when we boarded, we were informed that Internet was now available to us for free. We looked at each other and in non-verbal language that only married couples possess said “No Way!” We committed then to stay electronically disconnected for these few days.
For three days we talked to each other, sat on our balcony watching sunsets and moonrises in silence, discovered how bright stars are, how big stingrays can become (one swam within feet of us on Castaway Cay!), watched movies together, and reveled in the peace of removing ourselves from the cacophony of our busy lives. We didn’t even pull out iPads to play games or read on the Kindle. Hello, good ole, turn the pages magazines!
When we awoke on our debarking day, already docked at Port Canaveral (BOO!), we hesitated for just a moment before powering up our phones once again. What we discovered was a temporary electronic disconnect led to a wonderful reconnect with each other and the world in which we live.
It is true that electronic tools help us in our daily lives. I did all of my Christmas shopping online. (Can you say sales plus free shipping?!) Siri has helped us find our way home when we took a wrong turn, and Facetime enables us to stay connected with young nieces and a nephew. But, guess what? The world kept turning even while Jay and I sat on our balcony talking to no one and taking a deep breath of life.
I still struggle to find balance with phone, email, etc. Remember that post on two phones? But, I think we will find more short-term disconnect times. Who knows, next time, I may really find Nemo!
