Diary of my unplugged day

The garden at sunrise

"IF YOU CAN'T UNPLUG FROM YOUR TECHNOLOGY THEN THAT IS THE KINGDOM YOU SERVE" (see Unplug from Technology)


The rules:  No cell phone, television or internet from wake-up until 8:00 p.m.


My Unplugged Day:  At 4 am I woke up and checked my iPhone for an email from my friend who lives in Cairo.  I didn't consider this breaking the rules - I hadn't gotten out of bed yet and it was important.  Things had escalated there and I was anxious for news.  No email.  I turned off the phone and went back to sleep.

Downy woodpecker

I woke up the second time to the sound and aroma of the coffee brewing itself in the kitchen and then spent nearly two hours reading the newspapers with multiple cups of coffee.  There wasn’t much positive news about anything.  But it was very peaceful.  I watched a few birds on the feeder outside and saw one of the neighborhood hawks flying overhead, checking the bird feeder for snacking opportunities.  He flew on.

Son #1 and I departed mid-morning for an estate sale and a walk along the C&O Canal at Great Falls, Maryland.    At the park, it was stark and beautiful on the drive in.  Tall, straight trees were plastered with snow and it was very quiet.  We noticed and welcomed the recent road repairs and those still in progress and were pleased that there was no admission fee that day. 

Maryland snow family

The walk to the falls was treacherous with snow packed down to ice on the trail -  4” deep and not yet slushy enough to keep from being slippery.  The cloudy day, however, had turned sunny.

Great Falls

On the ride to the park, and continuing on our walk, we talked.  First about how it was freeing not to have the cell phones (my son forgot to bring his).  “Yeah it takes us back to the old days, like the 1960’s.” he said.  “Imagine, we would be riding in a really sweet car with fins and going to get a malt after the falls!”  We chuckled about time travel and I cherished the time as we talked and neither of us checked emails, took calls or worried about communicating the rest of the world.  We couldn’t remember a time in recent years when we were together without at least one cell phone.

Great Falls

We decided if we needed to call anyone we would be out of luck since you can’t find a pay phone anymore.  “Everyone has a cell phone now,” he stated, “and they are all busy talking on them but they don’t really communicate.”  We talked about how we talk to others by phone when we are with our friends or we communicate by text, giving useless updates, facebook status that nobody really cares about and tweets.  "All substitutes for real conversations like we’re having right now," I thought.  There is hope for the younger generation if they wise up like this one has.  Yup he’s a keeper.

Great Falls

Great Falls

C and O Canal National Visitors Center

It was quiet and very slippery at the falls.  I asked the keeper if he might want to go see “The King’s Speech” at the theatre later that evening.  “Not my kind of movie,” he replied.  “No explosions, car chases or boobs.”  I made one of those disapproving Mom noises, and tried to convince him it was a movie worth going to and got nowhere.  Perhaps I gave him too much credit for widsom earlier.

Old dog in the snow

Sampling of the downed limbs

After a stop for lunch and more conversation, we headed home.  There, we entertained the dog by throwing snowballs, then spent an hour moving several large limbs from the mighty pine trees that flank the garden.  The recent snow and ice were too much for some of the huge old limbs.  Son #2 agreed to take the limbs to the dump for recycling.  He's a keeper, too!

Williamsburg Husk teacup

Instead of checking email and wasting time on the internet, I enjoyed a pot of tea using a teacup from Mother’s china, purchased while she and Dad were on their honeymoon in Williamsburg.  Because I had the time, I simply sat and enjoyed my tea.  

After that, I listened to the radio and sorted through old family photographs, organizing them and puzzling over many without labels - I had no idea who was in them.  Labeling photographs is very helpful for future generations. 

bonsai

amaryllis

orchid bud

Jack the Jade

amaryllis bud

I watered my bonsai, Jack the Jade, and Sham the Shamrock.  I admired the beautiful bloom on the amaryllis and the buds that will soon be blooms on the orchid.

Sham the Shamrock

With paper and my favorite fountain pen, I outlined an article, enjoying the feel of the pen and the flow of the ink.  As much as I like the speed of writing on the laptop, I am really old fashioned about the power of the pen.  

After dinner the sons turned on a movie and I ignored it.  When 8:00 rolled around, I was a little disappointed because I felt I had an obligation to check email.  First email check was for news from Cairo; unfortunately there was none.  

It was a great day.  I didn't waste any time.   I relaxed between activities and spent much more time communicating in a very positive way.  I think this is going to become a habit.  Good things happen when you communicate in person.  

Try it.  Let me know how it goes for you.  I hope your day is as enjoyable as mine.

Lessons from a Shamrock

I have had my shamrock plant since February of this year.    Having just become unemployed, I was spending a great deal more time at home. The weather was miserable.  There was nothing else green in sight.  "Sham," this handsome, cheery, and inexpensive plant, was a perfect addition.  

Sham lives on a round oak table in front of one of the windows in my favorite room.  He gets sun all morning and a fair amount of light all day.  He has thrived in this location.  But his life, as mine, has had its natural and unnatural ups and downs.  


In his first eight months here, virtually the same time I have been job hunting, he has adjusted admirably.  I appreciate this plant for these lessons that give me something to think about when things don’t seem to be going quite right.  

Doing your best makes you look beautiful to others and feel good about yourself, but you can’t withstand too much intensity without a little rest and proper care.  When Sham really put out the flowers he looked fabulous, but soon after giving so much, he needed a new pot, some rest, and an increase in food.  I feel that way after the Christmas holidays or an exceptionally busy week job hunting.

When you’re exhausted, your whole body suffers and it takes a while to bounce back. Food and water and going dormant for a month were necessary for Sham’s recovery from his glorious showing in early spring.  Today, I was exhausted after a weekend of activities and not enough sleep (too many late nights reading Dan Brown’s  book, The Lost Symbol), although I was never bedecked with flowers.

Moving into a new house is hard on you.  The new pot, new soil, and new compost were big adjustments.  It took a while for Sham to absorb all of this and use it to help himself grow stronger. The last time I moved was 11 years ago and it was mentally and physically exhausting for months. 

A regular routine of going to sleep when the day is over and get up with the sun is good for you.  Sham shuts down at night.  His leaves fold up (see photo) and he retires until the light comes through the window the next morning.  Rest is critical to good health and getting up early and taking advantage of the day keep you in a healthy routine.

Changing routines is hard on you.   Seasonal light differences and a new watering schedule required Sham to adjust.  Right after moving in, he rallied, but then needed some down time. I definitely feel a loss when the days get shorter (and colder) or when my routine is simply not what I am used to, such as when I don’t get out of bed to go to the gym because it is dark and cold!

Getting a haircut boosts your spirits.  Sham's blossoms wither and die and need to be cut so that his energy goes into producing more flowers and keeping his leaves healthy.  I feel fantastic when I get a haircut.

Rich food can make you sluggish.  The new soil was rich in organic plant matter.  It may have been a little too rich for his roots, much like having a huge healthy meal might be after you have fasted for a day. What about that pint of Ben and Jerry’s that disappeared when I didn’t get the job interview?

Temperature and humidity affect you and sometimes you have to shed a bit to adjust. Many of Sham’s leaves dried up and fell off when it got hot and dry this summer.  Paring down a bit and reducing the load seemed to help.  We’re fortunate we can change our wardrobes with the seasons; currently I am digging out sweaters and blankets as the chilly weather has set in.

Drink more water when you are dry.  This is pretty obvious, but easy to forget and when you are a plant you have to depend on someone to give you a drink.  The physical effects of dehydration can be painful and it is easy to get so busy you forget the very basic need to drink water.

When your roots can’t expand, you need a new house.  Sham was pretty badly pot-bound and unable to get the nutrients he needed.  Being stuck in a house that is too small can stunt you and when you are feeling depressed about not having a job, the last thing you want to do is stay in a confining space.

You feel good when fed by your friends.  When I went away for a few days, Sham didn’t get the right amount of water.  He was droopy and lethargic when I came home.  My friends feed me in many ways every day; without them I would be very droopy.

When you have your house in order, and you are well taken care of (whether by yourself or someone else), you can thrive.  When something is missing, it becomes obvious pretty rapidly. This plant has reminded me of this again and again.  Right now, he is gorgeous.  He’s going to suffer again soon as the dry heat from the gas furnace and the wood-burning fireplace permeates his space, and the days grow shorter.  He will need some extra love and attention and maybe a little bit of food. 

Next time you wonder why you’re feeling a little low, or tired or out of sorts, think about whether you might be affected by some change that you can counter with a little adjustment; give yourself some time and don’t overdo it.