I always liked to think that I was a country girl.  Of course I would be – I live the part.  We live in an old farmhouse.  We have some land.  We are surrounded by farm animals, and horses that ride by on a regular basis.  I love the choir of crickets and the morning songs of birds.

Yet sometimes, I still crave even more of a slow down, and I wouldn’t be truly honest if I didn’t include a little peace and quiet as well.  I’m in good company, I know.

A few days ago, I set out to visit my parents down in Georgia.  I left our countryside (which is about an hour north of New York City) and headed down to their countryside in the north Georgia mountains.

My sister picked me up at the airport and we were on our way, with iPads, iPhones and laptops in tow.  Two and a half hours north of the airport and we were in the country.

After all hugs and greetings, by habit, I went to check my email.

No wifi.

Me:  “Daddy!  What’s up with your wifi???!!!!”

Daddy:  “It’s hit or miss.”

He said it like it was nothing.  But to me, those words were so foreign.  It was a statement that I just couldn’t comprehend.  I tried to convince myself that I was there for a family visit, not to pour over social media.  Instagram and Pinterest could wait.

But not really.

Day one passed, and it was fine.  I had that slow down that I was craving.  And boy, was it a slow down.  Then came day two.  I was texting Sean with one foot out the door and my arm extended up toward the sky, desperately trying to keep that one bar of wifi juice.

I couldn’t get my email.

I couldn’t check out Instagram.

Pinterest – forgetaboutit.

I was wifi stooged and in a panic.  Here I was, a so-called country girl who was in the country and desperately wanted to stay connected.

But to no avail.

Anxiety was kicking in, and maybe even a little panic.

It forced me to think about just how much of a country girl I was.  ‘

True, my idea of country is the choir of crickets, the birds greeting me in the morning, and the owls keeping me company as I lie awake at night.  But I like all of this with the comfort of knowing that I can stay connected.

Like one hour north of NYC.  I found that is about as country as I get.

Though I had a lovely visit with my parents, and solidified my strong bond with my sister, I found that I am definitely a little bit country and a little bit wifi.