The internet is as essential a component in our lives as are the power lines that bring electricity to our houses and the roads that deliver products to our doors. Before branding that statement as hyperbole, let’s look at precedent. A century ago, electricity was a luxury. Now, can we image living without it? Indoor plumbing did not become standard until four score years ago. Anyone want an outhouse in his backyard? There are people — not very old people either — who are reading this who remember when getting a phone was a big thing.

Technologies evolve. Like it or not, we become dependent.

I reside on the web; communicating with vendors, providing services to clients, even looking up restaurants for our anniversary. (Be warned however, I do NOT play Farmville; your invitation shall be rebuffed.) The triple-W is about as important to my livelihood as PG&E is to delivering the juice that runs my computer. I could survive without it, sure, but it would — by no small amount — upend the quality of my life.

So I should have foreseen the turn of events that would transpire when I decided to “upgrade” my phone service. But, what can I say? I’m an optimist. Dreams die hard…

The crew that came out was friendly and efficient. Yet, within 24 hours, my internet service devolved into hit-and-miss connections; so much so that I could no longer hold phone conversations nor work on the web.

Not having only one contact in the loop, I call the phone provider; explaining the issue (over a series of clicks and clacks). They flip switches and read dials, (predictably) arriving at the conclusion the hitch is due to my cable company, not them.

“No so fast!” says cable technical support; informing me everything checks out on their end. “Replace your router,” is his solution.  The equipment manufacturer explains that their apparatus is A-OK, redirecting me to service provider number one, somehow providing a twisted sense of Zen to this now completed loop.

Yet I remain in the lurch, cyber-lonely, career faltering; web-less.

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