I am happy to report that there are still places in the US that have no cell phone coverage.  And even happier to report that I am sitting in one of them.

I’m currently in a log house on the Hiwassee River in Hayesville, North Carolina.  For an entire week, no less.  The idea for renting this place came from a friend from my first writing class at the John C. Campbell Folk School.  Four of us bonded quite nicely in that class.  We started an on-line writing group, had a reunion at JCCFS last March, and this week find ourselves together again with the sole purpose of writing.

Here’s the nice thing about going away for a week to write with three retired women over the age of 65: if you don’t want to write, you don’t have to.  Actually, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.  The retired have a perspective on life that fits quite nicely with mine.

Lest you think I’m stuck in some place with three crotchety old women, let me point out that in the past year one of them got a tatoo on the back of her hand (it’s her first – she’s 69).  Another claims to be a bit behind the times when it comes to technology, but has with her 1) a Kindle 2) an iPad and 3) a Nintendo DS – and she’s 79.  And there is no shortage of talk about sex.  I find the topic can bring insight and laughter no matter what the age of the women.

Yesterday, we spent a few hours at the home of our first writing teacher who has an adorable place up on a hill in the woods.  Then, we had one of the best dinners I’ve ever eaten.  If you’re ever in Western NC, you MUST try the Copper Door.  Food that melts in your mouth.  Food that, with every bite, makes you close your eyes and moan in ecstasy.  I’ve read that some things are better than sex.  This food comes close.  We knew we were in the right place when we found they serve a wine called Writer’s Block.  And then there’s the service.  Imagine a very good looking older man with a deep smooth voice and bedeviling smile meeting your every need.  The parallels between food and sex are many….

And to start the whole week out on the right foot, I got a sunburn on my nose on Sunday – isn’t that just splendid?  (As only someone who spent this past winter in the Northeast can say.)

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been up to.  I wish all of you the opportunity to get away for week.  Not just take a trip – but to a place with no cell phone coverage (and only one wired internet connection).   And if you spent the winter in the northeast, you deserve it this year more than ever!