While in the midst of bonding with my new granddaughter, I find myself going through withdrawals.  It is a painful process, I assure you. The frustration builds day by day, the raw need claws at you with a razor-sharp edge. You don’t realize how much you depend on something until it is no longer there. Or, as in my case, intermittently there.

As a writer, I have been rightly spoiled. By my high-speed internet access. I got used to being able to log on anytime, anywhere, anyplace that had Wi-Fi available.  No matter when or where inspiration hit, there was my trusty laptop, drowsing, waiting for me to wake it up.

Or whenever I felt the overwhelming urge to interact with friend and foe alike, there was nothing to stop me. Nothing to prevent me from running off at the mouth, or should I say, at the fingers. Now there are trees, millions of them, surrounding the home I’m in. Green silent sentinels forming a protective barrier, holding me in and my signal out. (I don’t know if that’s true, but I’ve decided to blame the trees.)

And then one day, there was the weather. Apparently it got too cold for the satellite. It even sent me a message; it was experiencing weather related problems it said. At least it didn’t leave me in the dark about that, but if my Miami blood can handle the near freezing temperatures, why can’t this man-made piece of metal?

I didn’t know how good I had it. I thought walking the length of my house to plug in was the greatest inconvenience. No, I thought carrying the cord across the house from my bedroom to my office was the greatest inconvenience. Ha! What would I give to have that “problem” now.

The pain is real, I tell you. Especially for this political junkie. How can I keep up with the state of the world if I have to wait 30 minutes for a page to load? Staring at the screen does not help; I know, I’ve tried it. I guess a watched pot doesn’t boil.

It is so bad that I even have time to read, entire chapters, while I wait. And to add insult to injury, I can’t watch clips, can’t run video. If I’m lucky, I can read the text of an article, but streaming, fuggedaboutit. Thank God for YouTube. What I missed will be waiting for me when I get home; I will get my fill, gorge, overdose.

I know I should be happy and appreciative. When I hear the baby cry, my heart twists, I will miss that sound. I will miss seeing her grow up on a daily basis. But, she is surrounded by people who love her dearly, for within the trees are the hidden homes of extended family. I am extremely glad I had these first few weeks with her. She is a joy.

And I am appreciative, but Lord, I do miss my reliable internet. I need to write, I need to research, I need to stay in contact, I need to find a beta reader, or two or three. And by God, I need to gossip!!!