Last Friday afternoon I sat down at my computer to check my email and, lo and behold, I had no Internet service. I checked all my connections, everything appeared to be in order. I picked up the phone and it was dead. Oops, had I paid the bill? Check, the bill had been paid.I waited a bit, thinking this was just a temporary outage, and tried again. Nope, no service. Around 6 pm I made my way up canyon about five miles to check with my closest neighbor and learned there had been a cable cut. I was reminded of my blogging buddy, dizzblnd over at Soggy Doggy Bloggy, she's a construction customer service rep who handles calls from those looking for underground utilities before they dig. Obviously, in this case, someone forgot to call.
Saturday and Sunday I would just stare at my computer as if I had some type of mind power and the Internet service would miraculosly begin to work. I picked up the phone constantly with hopes of a dial tone. I paced, I wrung my hands, I was King Arthur in search of the Holy Grail.
GOD: Arthur! Arthur, King of the Britons! Oh, don't grovel! If
there's one thing I can't stand, it's people groveling.
ARTHUR: Sorry--
GOD: And don't apologize. Every time I try to talk to someone it's
"sorry this" and "forgive me that" and "I'm not worthy". What are you
doing now!?
ARTHUR: I'm averting my eyes, oh Lord.
GOD: Well, don't. It's like those miserable Psalms-- they're so
depressing. Now knock it off!
ARTHUR: Yes, Lord.
GOD: Right! Arthur, King of the Britons -- your Knights of the Round
Table shall have a task to make them an example in these dark times.
ARTHUR: Good idea, oh Lord!
GOD: 'Course it's a good idea! Behold! Arthur, this is the Holy
Grail. Look well, Arthur, for it is your sacred task to seek
this Grail. That is your purpose, Arthur -- the Quest for the
Holy Grail.
ARTHUR: A blessing!
LAUNCELOT: A blessing from the Lord!
GALAHAD: God be praised!
Early Monday morning I drove the 45 minutes down the rocky road, passing wild burros and cattle along the way, to the highway where I have cell service to call the small independent phone company that services my area. I was told it was a major cable cut and it would be Tuesday or Wednesday before my service was up and running again. My heart sunk as I thought of all the unanswered emails and my neglected blogs - aarrgghh! It will take me days just to catch up.
Less than an half-hour ago I picked up the phone and, voila!, I have my holy grail - my high speed internet has been restored. Amen.