A couple of weeks ago, I did something that I do on a somewhat regular basis - I dropped my cell phone. This time, though, instead of just acquiring yet another ding on the corner, I cracked the screen just badly enough to make it virtually non-functional. I can't text or dial a call the normal way, and I can't answer if someone calls me, although I can return a missed call. I can see that I have emails, but not read them. I can't use Facebook or Instagram at all, and while my alarm still works, I've been getting thirty minutes early every day because that's what my alarm was set for the day I broke it, and I can't change it.

I've had a cell phone for about ten years now, and a smart phone off and on for about half that time, and it's amazing how much that becomes a part of your life. It's been strange readjusting to life without that constant connection to the broader world. I'm used to pulling out my cell at any spare moment, just to check my email or Facebook or see if I've gotten any new likes on Instagram. For the first couple of days I had to be really careful to sit where I could see a clock when I took my lunch break, because otherwise I didn't know how much time had passed. Since then, I've been good about remembering my watch, but I still find myself reaching into my purse or pocket, instinctively searching for my usually ever present phone.

On the other hand, though, it really hasn't been that bad. I spend the better part of my day on the computer at work, so it's not like I don't have any idea about what's going on in the world. It's also kind of nice to get home and see a few interesting emails waiting for me in my inbox, or some new Facebook status that a friend has tagged me in; nine times out of ten when I check my phone, there's nothing of note anyway. Since my friends know that I won't be easily reachable, if we make plans, they're more likely to both stick to them and be on time (I'm always really punctual, but I like to think that even if I wasn't, not having a way to tell someone I was going to be late would force me to be).

In a weird way, I think it's also helping my memory. I don't have the internet at my fingertips at all times - if I want to look something up or listen to a song or share a thought on Facebook, it has to live in my head until I'm somewhere where I can do that. It's mellowed me out a little bit, not feeling like I have to see or know or share something rightthissecond.

Not gonna lie, though, I really miss Instagram, probably because that's the one thing I can't get my fix of my laptop. Damn you, Insta! Why can't I post photos from my computer? (And before you point out that I can, in fact, look at other peoples' photos from my laptop, I freely admit that IG is way more about other people liking my photos than me liking theirs. What can I say? I'm a narcissist.)

I did, of course, order a new phone, and I should have it pretty soon. I'm sure as soon as it's in my hands I'll be back to my old ways, wondering how I lived without it for two whole weeks (an eon!). At the moment, though, I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't have just gotten a flip phone and called it a day.