There is a small object that I take with me whenever I travel that was unheard of a few years ago. My phone charger is often the last thing I pack and the first thing I unpack, up there in importance with a toothbrush. On occasion I forget it, having plugged in my phone up until the last possible minute before the drive home so as to have
full power for GPS. I have heard that they are often orphaned in hotel rooms. My kids all have stories about leaving them when they visit a friend, then leaving it behind and the mail not being fast enough to return it so they buy another. One of our kids got fed up and bought six off ebay, annoyed to discover that several of them were not actually compatible with her phone.
We were visiting with our son when I mentioned that my power was low but I was nowhere near a plug. He
pulled out a recharger that works in your pocket. I smiled. We were walking to a restaurant and by the time we finished the salad my phone had full power.
When Sandy hit a few years ago there was a photo on the internet of an extension cord someone had rigged to the sidewalk. They still had electricity, and offered it to any stranger feeling stranded. Call me sentimental, but the image chokes me up.
The other day I asked a couple
what strategies they had for recharging their marriage. Long pause.
"Actually we did something awhile back that we enjoyed."
"Really? Great! How long ago was it?"
Another pause.
"Well, I guess it's been maybe eight years. And we bought John Gray's book. Haven't read it yet but it's on my to do list."
I mumbled something, but wanted to suggest that it was a good idea
to power up more frequently.
Just this week I asked a woman about their get away for their tenth anniversary. Her face grew bright.
"It was fantastic." She told me a little about where they went and that the kids were just fine.
"But the days after we got back were crazy and it already feels like it was two years ago."
Maybe they can find time to replenish again
soon.
