I wanted to spend the summer off Facebook and Twitter entirely. I made a vow to myself, I made it public, I wished it true, but alas, I keep logging in and aaaargh!

Why it’s difficult:

1. Some people communicate solely through Facebook messages, status comments, and Twitter DMs!
2. Some people do not email you when they need to reach you… even if it says on your profile you’re not logging in! (Why I’d assume anyone would pay attention to that is beyond me.)
3. My mom is on Facebook now and I miss my mom!
4. I’m worried about my baby sister and this way I can obsessively check on her without her knowing!
5. Some close family members only announce important news like new girlfriends on Facebook and if you don’t see it there you won’t ever know!
6. There are book-related things I want to be able to share by clicking this little button called “Share” on external websites… and then suddenly I’m logged in and I’m sharing and I can’t help it!
7. If you add me as a friend and I don’t add you back for three months then you might be offended!
8. Nobody cares when you’re not there—it’s a surefire way to find out how many friends you (don’t) have!
9. Not to mention all the surely fascinating and amazing news I’m missing about books and publishing especially from Twitter, and since I no longer work in publishing either it’s like I’m living on this little island with one tree and no one visits ever, which is fine, sure, fine, but… I’m curious! Like who’s read MATCHED by Ally Condie? I want to read it! Like who’s read LUCINELLA by Lore Segal? I just started it. What books are coming out that I should know about? What is happening? What is going on? Not to mention the lack of advice on my little one-tree island. Like what’s a good book on how to make a fast-moving plot? I went to the bookstore and can’t find one. Like who’s been a mentor at Girls Write Now? I’d love to know details. Like what are you having for dinner? There are some days I’d like to know.
10. I just miss it—and some of you—that’s all.

Sigh. I’m still trying to keep myself away until I can make it through the next couple of months, as I have a lot of work that needs done and I am too easily distracted to add one more thing to the mix right now. But, who knows, I may crash and burn and start tweeting about the mosquito in my apartment that I can’t seem to catch (it’s bitten me 5+ times; it thinks I’m delicious).

This has quickly become a far more depressing undertaking than I expected. Is this a normal stage of social networking withdrawal, or am I just facing up to the reality of living in 2010?