Amy M. Schaefer
  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery

From the Front Porch

I am an "accidental blogger". When I launched my writing career in March of 2014, one of the things that I decided to include was my journaling, which I have always found to be a comforting and therapeutic endeavor.  It was a big risk to open myself up in such a public forum, but it has taught me that, for the most part, we share far more experiences than we think. It's comforting to know I'm not alone!  (*the "Button Text" is the link to my first novel)
Button Text

Unplugged

4/17/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image@wishesandwisdomsigns.com
"Putting your phone away and paying attention to those talking to you? There's an APP for that...it's called RESPECT." ~author Unknown

Our pregnant daughter sat happily devouring the pizza she'd ordered after work. Cheese on one side, sausage on the other, extra sauce. She said, "I like my pizza swimming." I crinkled my nose in disgust. "You are NOT my child," I told her. She just laughed. She said she'd been craving pizza all day and it was clear that she was thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to feed said craving. "That smells really good," her father said, eying her as if she might share (...later I caught him cutting off a small slice before bed). He turned to me, "I wish we'd had pizza now." "Me, too," I agreed. "But not that mess she's eating." The next day he texted me asking if I'd like to pick a pizza place for a date night dinner. Worked for me! No cooking. No dishes. And I'd secretly been craving pizza all week, so it seemed like the perfect win-win. I texted back, "Sure." He replied, "Choose any place you'd like."

"So, where are we going?" my husband asked when he walked in from work that evening. I'd decided to check out the pizza in one of the oldest Italian restaurants in town. It was relatively close and I'd never had their pizza before, so I figured it would be somewhat of a "new" experience. Vincenzo's is a family owned place that has been around our hometown for many years, opening its doors in 1964. In fact, it used to be the only Italian restaurant to speak of. The current owner attended school with me when we were growing up. The atmosphere is quiet and elegant, a perfect place for a birthday celebration (...as was the case at the long table next to ours), a family gathering, and of course date night dining. Or wait staff was wonderful, and the owner came by near the end of our meal to ask how everything was, making the experience all the more warm and hospitable. The pizza? Out of this world! The toppings were very fresh, the crust light and airy. It was a polished setting for good food, conversation, and friendly, efficient service. On the way out, we passed a booth of six...every single person engaged in something on their cell phones! I shook my head, disgusted, thinking, "What a missed opportunity!"

Whatever your weekend has in store, I hope you will all take time to really connect to the people in your lives. In my opinion, that is one of the most important things we can do with one another. We are constantly bombarded with text messages, Facebook games, ipads, notebooks, etc. and completely lose track of the world around us, trading in our humanity by 1's and 0's. I don't know what my weekend plans are yet, but they will NOT include anything technology related. One of my main goals is to have a weekend completely unplugged!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About The Author

    I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was only nineteen, I moved away and became a military wife. My only aspiration at that tender time in my life was to create an adult life that "fixed" all of the "injustices" of my childhood. Secretly, however, I wanted to reach for the sky! I wanted to be a writer and find ways to "save the world" (my mother used to say, "You have Save the World Syndrome".). Mostly, I wanted to matter.

    Since then, I have learned to reach well beyond what I ever dared to think was possible. I've learned not to allow fear to stop me from whatever future I want to create!

    What keeps me grounded? My Tribe! What provides the wind beneath my wings? A well of reserves filled with unstoppable passion!

    Archives

    August 2021
    March 2020
    August 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories
    A View From the Hill: Short Stories by Mattie Hill Shields

    All

    Button Text

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery