Starting to feel a little more like the pioneers who inspired this art project—the internet was out all day. I tried all the tricks, asked around about our neighbors’ service. Everyone else is online, so it was a problem with our modem. I knew I’d have to call Comcast, and I wasn’t looking forward to it. And if it was just streaming movies or checking email, I could put it off longer; but out in our canyon, no internet can mean no phone service also.

I had an appointment at 10:00, some chores to complete at home. Clear that we weren’t getting internet back without intervention, we packed up bags and head for Starbucks, where they drank sparkling waters and played computer games and I fought my way through the automated customer service at Xfinity, self-soothing with a Chocolate Cream cold brew. Even the local techs don’t understand our location, and the number of times I had to explain that I could not take the phone call at my house to read them information off the back of my modem… Finally scored an appointment for tomorrow.

So, we came home to a house we knew would be quiet and without distraction. I couldn’t work, we couldn’t stream a show, couldn’t even expect someone to call. Without deliberation, we each sort of retreated to our own corners. I pulled out my journal and a pencil, started sketching. The girls each took their turns at the piano, picking out songs by ear, singing sweetly.

That evening, we hosted a back-to-school girls night sleepover with some besties. There was a taco bar, a spa, ice cream, and late night chats. It was the most restful I’d felt in a good long while, and I have plans to force internet outages in the future, if, at the very least, to make our own music instead of relying on convenience.