The Screen of Nature - Kerry

My children gawked at the glistening mineral walls inside the Oregon Caves yesterday. They were entertained walking through the dark passages and climbing narrow rock staircases.

My husband and I were happy that they were enthralled by natural wonders as opposed to the internet, television or movies.

After the cave expedition, we walked across the street to the Oregon Caves Chateau to spend the night. The six-story lodge was built in 1934. It's a national historic landmark, therefore it's lighting conforms with the strict provisions of the act, which basically means it's dimly lit for historic authenticity in the main floor. There's one pay phone in a non-functional phone booth, no cell phone service or televisions. There isn't even a clock radio in the rooms. (Although I found out later that wi-fi service was available, but only in the lobby).

For crackberry addicts, this lack of instant access 24/7 to the great information highway must be excruciating. Although I don't watch television, I do admit to having my laptop on all day in the kitchen, where I check it often for news, emails and countless other items. The electronic timewarp forced us to actually look to our environment for entertainment.

Suddenly the wildlife slide show presentation that evening looked pretty interesting. At first our three children were skeptical about sitting in front of a screen where slides were projected one at a time.

"Why isn't the picture on the screen moving mama?" asked Jillian as she sat on my lap.

They suddenly sat with rapt attention as the U.S. Forest Service narrator stood up and started describing the death of wildlife from pesticides and the animal's consequent resurgence thanks to the endangered species act. Anything involving animals and death is interesting to them.

After the presentation, we went to sleep in our rooms, lulled by the stillness. Maybe there is something to the whole EMF, or "electro magnetic frequency" platform (a premise held by a group of people who believe that electronic waves emitted from cell phones, portable phones, computer screens and cell phone towers are potentially harmful to our natural vibrational balance).

The next morning, we watched Josephine and Napoleon, the resident raven couple, out the window of the lobby. No one even asked to watch cartoons. After breakfast, Christian and Max played chess, Claire read and Jillian played dominoes. Then we went on a hike through the old-growth forest.

After the hike, we packed and jumped in the car. As I sat down in the car seat, the ipod beckoned enticingly on the dashboard. I unplugged it and continued talking to my children about the forest outside the window.