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About twice a year, Paul and I venture out to visit his family in the wilds of Southwest Texas – for a week or so at Christmas, and for a long weekend (longer if we stop in and visit his Mom) every June for a family reunion.

There is no Internet access at either of these locations.

I have become so used to my electronic tether, that I almost go into withdrawal when I am away from my usual haunts for that length of time. Pretty pathetic, huh?

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It isn’t that I don’t like spending time with Paul’s extended family; I love them all dearly, and we get along great. I just want to know what is happening in the world at large, and I like to keep in touch with my “imaginary friends”. And since my MG diagnosis, the Internet has become more of a lifeline than ever – I’m not able to do much more than sit and read these days, so having people to “talk” to is a great way to keep from becoming a social recluse, even if we aren’t talking face-to-face.

We left home last Thursday to visit Paul’s mom for a couple of days before going on to his Dad’s annual family reunion. I knew that I wouldn’t have Internet access, so I brought along a couple of books to read. I had to purchase a couple more while we were there, because I finished the two that I had packed for the trip.

I guess there is a silver lining to the “No Internet” state of being, after all.

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It brought back memories of the Summer Reading Programs that we used to participate in at our local library each year – I honestly think that was one of the things that allowed my Mom to keep her sanity; unfortunately for her, I have always been a voracious reader, and I was usually finished with the 6 books that we were allowed to check out each week after only a couple of days. (I think she and the librarian worked out a deal, because I was eventually allowed to check out 12 books at a time….)

Since I couldn’t play on the Internet, I was able to start and finish “Citizen K” (about a not-so-nice fella who has been stirring up trouble in the conservative blogosphere of late), “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand, and “American Sniper” (about a Navy SEAL sniper who is related to one of my blogging buddies). I also started Tom Clancy’s “Against All Enemies” – it’s been a while since I picked up a Clancy novel, and I realized that I need to catch up on all of his books that I’ve missed.

Needless to say, Paul is happy to be home.

The Internet doesn’t cost nearly as much as books do…..

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