Growing Up With Phones

February 6, 2013 by dorannrule

Daily Prompt: Call me, Maybe.

Describe your relationship with your phone. Is it your lifeline,

a buzzing nuisance, or something in between?

I remember how telephones used to be. I even remember party lines where there were several people talking at once and you could listen in on some very interesting conversations.

We only had one phone, just as we only had one car and one bathroom. Imagine? And if we called anyone long distance we were supposed to shout. After all, long distance meant the recipient was very far away, so we had to shout to be heard.

There were also phone booths on most street corners because nobody had cell phones. There I go, dating myself again. Mom always said, “Don’t forget to take a dime so you can make a phone call if you need help.” If you forgot your dime, you could always ask at a nearby store or gas station, “May I please use your phone?”

Not Smart Enough for a Smart Phone

So, I love my phone! I love the one in my pocket or purse and I love the three we have at home. We even did away with the land line phone and all ours are now “cells.” Imagine? I guess I’m not smart enough for a smart phone yet though. They say you have to take a course to learn how to operate one. And they have something called “apps.” I don’t think I need apps, whatever they are.

The only time I have been annoyed with my wonderful not-so-smart ignorant phone is when a local guitarist-teacher- musician’s phone number was one digit off mine. Students and would-be students were calling constantly to make or break appointments and would leave lengthy messages. He is a very popular teacher. I finally connected with him and the problem was solved. Guess his phone got smart and changed its number.

Invisible Friends

But I love my phone so much I have joined the crowd of people who immediately call people on their “cells” when the airplane’s wheels touch ground! And I love watching people who walk around waving their arms and making hand gesture to seemingly invisible people.

And I love being able to call home if I’m going to be late, or to call for an emergency tow, or not to have to remember a phone number because it’s programmed into the “cell.” On the other hand, I almost forgot my own number once! Imagine?

Phones make for wonderful stories don’t they? Who knew?

Call Me, Maybe (thelissachronicles.wordpress.com)
Daily Prompt: Call Me, Maybe (yourfriendmel.wordpress.com)

Posted in Daily Prompt, Humor, The Good Old Days | Tagged blogging inspiration, Cell Phones, humor, phone calls, Science and Technology, smart phone, Telephone booth, telephones | 15 Comments

15 Responses

on February 6, 2013 at 7:09 am Dianna

Everything you wrote is so true. I do love the convenience, and if I leave home without mine, I turn right around and come back to get it!

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on February 6, 2013 at 7:24 am apronheadlilly

We too just recently dumped our land line. My problem, though, is i forget where I leave it in the house. There is also this expectation that I will always be available–no leaving the phone off the hook. But I do feel safer. My car died yesterday and triple A was there in no time with my staying in the car the whole time–that was only made possible because I remembered to charge it!

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on February 6, 2013 at 7:57 am photosfromtheloonybin

So, did you really listen in on the party line conversations?? Naughty girl! LOL

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on February 6, 2013 at 9:10 am Mama's Empty Nest

We’re dinosaurs at our house…no smart phones for us either. Our cells are basic phones, the only thing fancy is a slide-out keyboard to text (that seems to be how our adult children prefer to communicate with us these days), and that’s probably considered old-fashioned. Heck, we still have our land line. Just can’t break the tie. 😉

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on February 6, 2013 at 9:20 am coastalcrone

How did we ever manage without cell phones? I’m not smart enough either for a smart phone! I remember getting our first phone out in the country – and it was a party line!

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on February 6, 2013 at 11:14 am cindy knoke

No phones don’t make wonderful stories, YOU DO!

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on February 6, 2013 at 2:03 pm dorannrule

Me too Dianna – I feel naked without that lil phone!

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on February 6, 2013 at 2:06 pm dorannrule

Somehow our in-house phones are still the ones in the cradles so they recharge all the time (unless the power goes off in the house) but they are no longer landliners. We also kept the old landline phone number. Wild huh?
And of course we still carry the little phonestoo, that we lose, but they have different numbers. Now ask me how to explain how all this works? It’s via Verizon is all I know.

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on February 6, 2013 at 2:08 pm dorannrule

Must admit I am a goody two shoes and would never do such a thing. Listening through walls is another matter. 🙂 P.S. Do you ALWAYS have to get to my weak points?

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on February 6, 2013 at 2:09 pm dorannrule

You are on the cutting edge mama! We don’t even text yet!

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on February 6, 2013 at 2:09 pm dorannrule

It’s lovely to meet up with a kindred spirit! 🙂

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on February 6, 2013 at 2:10 pm dorannrule

Now THAT is a very very kind thing to say and I love you for it! Thank you Cindy. 🙂

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on February 6, 2013 at 2:57 pm photosfromtheloonybin

Weak points? What weak points? You don’t have any :).

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on February 6, 2013 at 3:21 pm apronheadlilly

🙂

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on February 7, 2013 at 12:49 pm dorannrule

How true. How very true. 🙂

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