Cranky…Phone Home
How the Hell
did anyone ever survive without cell phones?
I know there was a time when we did not have them, I just don’t recall
how we survived.
Yesterday I
left the house to hit some golf balls on the range. About half the way to the golf course, only
about 8 miles, I realized I left without my cell phone. OMG!! Should I turn back and return four miles to
get my phone, or continue on to the course without my phone. Turning back, I decided would be silly, I can
live without a phone for a few hours, I went 58 years without a cellphone.
I traveled
on another mile and I actually started sweating because I didn’t have my
phone. I started to think how lost I
would have been the other day when my car broke down if I did not have a phone.
I could
always find a pay phone, or borrow a cell phone from a helpful stranger to call
Mrs. C for help. Wait…I don’t know Mrs.
C’s number. I’m pretty sure that if I asked
Seri to “Call wife” from a stranger’s
phone, I would not get through to Mrs. Cranky.
I turned
back and went home, and stayed home. I
was on the fence about hitting golf balls in the first place because my
shoulder has been barking, I figured this was a sign that I need to rest the
shoulder some more.
I still don’t
know how I left the house without my phone.
I never go anywhere without my phone.
We used to
have one phone in the house. We did not
have caller ID or voice mail. When the
phone rang you always answered it; if you were away from home you never knew if
anyone called. If it was important, a
caller would keep trying. When you
finally answered the first question was always, “Where were you, I’ve been calling?”
Anyway,
point is we did survive with just one phone at home, and now I am afraid to
leave the house and go 8 miles down the road without my phone.
The more
things change, the more I can’t go back.
Oh, my, you have it bad! I never think about it. Often, if I do think about it - I shut it off. Occasionally, I forget to turn it back on. If anyone wants to get hold of me, they can always send an email and I might get to it by the end of the day. Sweat? Oh, my!
ReplyDeleteI refuse to be a slave to my cell phone. I have one for emergencies but I don't live on it. When we still had the dog, I would take the phone with me when I walked him in case the car broke down or any other trouble happened. I cannot tell you how irritated I get to have a cell phone go off during a church service (though there are always those messages on the announcement board to silence your phones). We did just fine without them. However, I have to admit that I breathed a sigh of relief when son at the "tender" age of 12 got his first cell phone. I finally knew I could call him and know why he was late for dinner, etc., and not let my mind wonder if he had been kidnapped or had some other misfortune happen to him. Then I read an article that teenagers weren't picking up calls when their parents called. I told him if that ever happened, there would go the cell phone. The joke is now when he calls me, it is hit or miss if I will actually pick up the call since I usually keep my phone on vibrate or mute.
ReplyDeletebetty
I've just spent a week in Cornwall with almost no reception which was a little traumatic given that we had left Miss Mac for the first time ever to fend for herself. Every time we hit a ton or high point I was frantically checking my signal, it was almost a relief to be in places where I knew for sure there wasn't any. Mind you, I still had internet in lots of places so I didn't feel completely cut off but it did make me aware of just how reliant I was on it!
ReplyDeleteCan we live without mobile phones these days? I very much doubt it. How times have changed. Back in the 70s there was no such thing as a mobile phone- these days we wouldn't leave home without one. If only we could get back the 70s.
ReplyDeleteI often leave home without my phone. Sometimes as I'm walking away, I remember and say, "Oh! my phone!" and then I think to hell with it and keep going. Then when I get home I check for messages, usually there aren't any.
ReplyDeleteI went shopping the other day without realising I didn't have my phone with me. I was halfway through the shop before I knew and suddenly felt quite helpless. I mean, what if I had an accident or something. Well I didn't so everything was fine, except for the sweat and worry which made me wonder if I was normal!
ReplyDeleteit's so true. i gave up my home phone (finally) last year and now feel like my cell has to be with me at all times. :)
ReplyDeleteI left mine on the desk the other morning. I just kept going, without it.
ReplyDeleteI drive my friends and family crazy by not having my phone on me at all times...one of the ways I can drive them crazy. I do love caller ID and call blocking though.
ReplyDeleteWell, sad to say, (I guess!) but I identified with every single word you said! Not the golf course for me, but the grocery store two miles away! OMG! What if my car breaks down?! What if I need to ask hubby if we need milk? Noooooo!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe just got smart phones and I leave mine home all the time. I'm not addicted yet I guess.
ReplyDeleteI do remember that I stopped many times back in the day to use a pay phone for one reason or another. That's how I did a phone call while on the move. Now finding a pay phone is probably pretty difficult.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
I don't own a cell phone, and sometimes I feel like the last person alive who doesn't own one.
ReplyDeleteThe outgoing message on both Bud's & my cell phone says "This phone is NOT checked for messages. You can leave a message on our landline." We use our cell phones when it suits us!!
ReplyDeleteI live in an area that has no cell service so the ancient flip phone I carry is for emergency when on the road only and then I hope I don't have to hike to the top of a mountain to get a signal. Ah such freedom.
ReplyDeleteThe few times I've left my phone at home and continued on without it... 1) my son broke his leg at the skate park and the attendants there had no way to contact me, 2) my daughter threw up in class and the school had no way to contact me, 3) my son's soccer practice let out a half hour early due to the weather and the coach had no way to contact me so he had to wait 30 minutes until I picked my son up (not my fault practice let out early, but still) -- when you have kids these days, cell phones are a complete necessity, and I don't care what anyone else says from the "old days" -- I am 47 years old so I am actually from the old days myself, and I remember waiting and waiting until it was dark outside for my mom to come pick me up from a sporting event that ended way earlier than she thought it would. Not fun, not safe! Cell phones are addicting, yes, but they are a good thing.
ReplyDeleteMine stays with me, mostly because i have children who are still at the "mom, i need help" ages. Also Sweetie expects to be able to get in touch with me at least 12 times a day.
ReplyDeleteI am always surprised when I check my cell phone and it says I missed a call. But it was only 10 minutes ago and I've been sitting right next to it. So how the hell did I miss a call?
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your entire post. Of course, I get equally nervous if I go somewhere without a camera (I know, I know, my cell phone takes pictures...it doesn't count). People have told me they recognized me only because I carried my camera with me. So yes, cell phone and camera - always with me.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't bother me a bit to turn mine off at school from 8:00 to 3:00. However, I don't like to be without it now because of me running around, and the boys away at college. You never know what could happen.
ReplyDeleteI panic too when I realize I've left the house without my phone. I do shut it off on the weekends though except to my kids.
ReplyDeleteI often leave mine at home, but I still have a basic feature phone. You hit on a real problem of not knowing anyone's phone number anymore. I barely know my own.
ReplyDelete