Connected

In the above photo, my husband is checking his email on his iPhone first thing in the morning. Here are a few (very) random facts about our connections with and through our electronic devices:

• we sleep with 2 iPhones, an iPad and a Kindle Fire connected to outlets near our bed, as well as the usual lamps, house phone, and clock radio.
• when I can’t sleep, I reach for my kindle and read a book, e-mail, or blogs or play Words With Friends or Draw Something.  My husband gave me this new kindle for Christmas and hasn’t complained yet about me reading it at three in the morning- but I don’t think he likes it.
• sleeping with an iPhone can be dangerous.  Last month, I fell back asleep one night with the iPhone on the covers next to me. In the morning, my husband threw off the covers as he got out of bed, and the phone FLEW high up in the air and totally CLOCKED me on the left ear (I was asleep still). Owwwwwww. . .
• I read in a blog yesterday about someone disconnecting in December- no Facebook, emails, internet surfing etc.  I don’t think I’m ready for that.
• my husband uses his phone and computer almost totally for WORK- and often doesn’t take his phone when we go out, because he is not working. I feel very disconnected if my phone isn’t with me.
• when we travel, our laptops and all our devices and their chargers and cords accompany us.
• before I got into photography, I was immersed in genealogy research on the computer- and made many family connections.  Now, I’m connecting with photographers.
• I used to look at magazines or knit while watching TV- now I’m on the phone, iPad or kindle
• my family thinks I spend too much time on the computer.
• everything I’ve learned about photography has been online.
• I’m fascinated with and horrified by the phenomenon of catfishing (pretending to be someone else online).
• I’m on too many mailing lists and periodically go through and unsubscribe.
• but. . . I subscribe to my own blog (is that weird?).
• in the last 24 hours, I’ve received 99 emails (thought it would be more!)
• my daughter regularly connects with me by text, phone, and email so that I can see photos and videos of my grandsons almost every day. I’m so grateful for that connection!
• my grandsons connect with me through FaceTime and Skype- double grateful!
• in a recent workshop I attended, it was suggested that we connect with our hearts (our spirit, God. . .) before setting feet on the floor in the morning. I try to remember to do that before checking my e-mail.
• I don’t sleep with my camera- I had to run into the other room to get it when I saw this photo opportunity.

I’m thinking you will either relate to this post- or be appalled.  I’m already feeling defensive.