I was locked out. Could not even access the log-in screen.
Everyone else I know who uses Gmail for their e-mailing needs had no issues. They could sign in and out at will, use Gmail chat, and access any long-archived piece of mail they might suddenly desire, on a whim, to re-read.
What bothered me more, though, than the mere lack of access to my email, was the sensation I had of being utterly removed from my portal into the world. When I am working at home, I am constantly signed in to my Gmail; I use the chat to stay in contact with my husband when he's at his office, and my best friend when she's at her office, and my friends in California and Boston at their offices (huh, I'm sensing a trend). The little Gmail notifier pops up a message whenever a new email comes in -- not just making the "ding" of new mail, but actually popping up a snippet of the message so I can decide if it needs to be read immediately (almost always yes) or not (rarely the case).
Gmail is the address I use for blog-related items, so comments are sent there. I also have a separate Gmail address just for my SAT students, so without access, I am stranded, unaware of if they've sent questions that need a timely response.
It just felt so wrong to be excommunicated by Gmail. Even though I could access all the other websites I read to stay abreast of news and happenings in the world, I still experienced the internet equivalent of phantom limb sensations. It was vile.
I can barely express the joy I felt when I got home from Drama Kids. Gmail had decided that I'd done enough penance for whatever my original sin was. I'm back in.
I don't know how I deceived you, Gmail, but I will be faithful forevermore.
1 comment:
After reading your post, I thought I'd write to let you know that you were not alone in being shunned by Gmail, if only for a short while. I had the dreaded message telling me that Gmail was temporarily down, and to try back later. Apparently, my definition of "later" differed from Gmail's. Thankfully, all became right in the world (or, at least in my world) when I regained the ability to communicate online!
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