What If…
What if I make today an electronics-free day? I can still use the refrigerator and the percolator to steep a hot cup of tea with cream, but not anything else that requires electricity other than the water heater and the pump which effectively keep me and the house clean. Only necessary electric items will play a part in my day.
What if I ignore the urge to check my email? I will still walk to the curb to collect the junk mail and the lone paper bill from the mailbox, but I will not peek at any messages sent electronically even if it means I miss the reminder announcing the final sale day at my favorite online shopping venue. Instead, I will glance at the fliers I retrieved before dropping them in the recycling bin.
What if I refrain from texting my sister to find out how her new grandson is doing? I will dig out ancient stationery and write her a letter, although I may have to wait a week or two for a response, especially if she also decides to go electronic-free. Tomorrow I will label the envelope because I do not know her address by heart which, unfortunately, is in my phone which is off-limits.
What if I want to read a book? I will need to choose from my limited collection since nowadays, my tablet holds more titles than my bookcase and I have not been to the library recently. There may be a paperback I have not opened yet that feels great in my hands, but I will need to find an old-fashioned bookmark to mark my place.
What if I fancy listening to music? Without radio, my music app, or my CDs, I’ll have to entertain myself by belting out whatever songs I know by heart, though more than likely, I can get my favorite guitarist to strum some rock or blues on his guitar and we could pair up like we did years ago. Ah… those university, coffeehouse evenings of long ago that merged our budding romance into over forty years of marriage.
What if I envision the draft of a story or poem? I will have to search for notebook paper and a pen — make that a pencil and an eraser — and rely on my brain as a reference since I have not owned a dictionary or thesaurus in years. I hope the process is as fun and rewarding as using my laptop and the internet.
What if I cancel my subscription streaming services for the evening? I will have to wind down solely with my thoughts (or grab that paperback again) and intentionally think about things: goals, challenges, blessings, heartaches, and such. Better yet, I could spend prime, relaxing time with my guitar-playing partner, silently relishing our relationship with dark chocolate and a glass of port.
As you may have surmised, “what if” never happened. Instead, I opened my e-reader and read a few chapters of Not Perfect by Elizabeth LaBan, video-chatted with my son and his fiancé, and then escaped to the lanai. After swimming several laps, I relaxed in the sun contemplating the past, the present, and the future.
My reflections led to memories of days before modern electronics, days that held more inconveniences, yet were not necessarily less desirable. Could I happily survive those days again now that I know the marvels of smartphones, internet search engines, and e-commerce shopping? I studied the sky, imagined a simpler lifestyle, and fantasized that I could have it all — modern technology and the good old days…
Eventually, I brought my impressions inside and began writing on my laptop. Before long, I opened my preferred streaming service intending to binge-watch a drama series. Instead, I sailed into dreamland wondering, “What if I make tomorrow an electronics-free day?”
