Six days of being topless

As we were leaving last week for our trip to Florida I reminded Jimmy that we shouldn't forget the laptop because I always like to download the pictures as we take them and blog a little about our adventures. He assured me that all was under his complete control and that I shouldn't worry.

(Ahem. Yep, you know what's coming.)

Sure enough, as we were entering the airport (already running late) he realized that he had forgotten the laptop.

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I had to quickly stifle the primal scream that was building in my throat and to terminate the urge to strangle him with my bare hands at that very moment because really, why couldn't he have just left a suitcase or two? I mean, I could even forgo several of those children tagging along, but MY LAPTOP? Where are your priorities, man?

I was forced into laptop-lessness for six entire days. There was no gradual cessation of my computer time, no baby steps toward laptop stoppage. No, I had to go cold-turkey much against my will and to the utter detriment and shock to my sensibilities. I was an addict who needed a fix, a junkie who needed an intervention and FAST.

So I did all that I could do in my pathetic state: I swam with my children, I read out-of-date fluff magazines and perused high-brow newspaper articles, I dug in the sand with the baby, and I reminisced about old times with my parents. I spent quality, uninterrupted, precious time with my family.

Yes, I'm almost ashamed to admit it, I went topless for six whole days last week and to my complete dismay and sheer delight, I loved every single minute of it.

Who knew going topless could be so liberating?