Phones

Waaay back in the last century, when I was young, as in a child, homes had one centrally located black phone, usually in the kitchen, which was attached to the wall.  I did know a family or two who had a desk phone, also located near, if not in, the kitchen.  The handset was attached to the base by a cord, so the user was limited to a few square feet around the phone when using it. Pulling up a kitchen chair or stool while conversing was helpful in long conversations.  And long distance? Only for special occasions or emergencies.  

I remember our first cordless phone, probably fifteen or so years into our marriage.  Oh the convenience!  I could wander, sit on the sofa, stir the soup.  Amazing!!  And then we got an answering machine! (This was before all the pesky robo-calls and what we call "spam" calls. . .) 

And now?  Most everyone is getting rid of those "land lines" and going to cell phones.  Talk about portable!  Anywhere we go, not just at home. Voice mail, texting, and even the internet at our fingertips! Even calls across the globe! Things the little girl at 5491 could never have imagined.  

Which brings me to this Christmas.  Dan and I both got new phones.  Apple iPhones.  We've been Android for years, thanks to Keaton and Eric gifting us with their phones when they upgraded some years ago.  They were getting old, though, and some apps were super slow in loading.  Eric kept saying we needed new phones but Dan and I waffled, not wanting to have to make decisions on what to buy.  So, Ann and Eric took matters into their own hands and moved us into a new age. Thankfully they both have iPhones now and were able to set us up, even to transferring all our info from old phones to new.  

So, I am the proud owner of a beautiful new white iPhone.  Knowing us well, they picked a simple model and we're adjusting pretty quickly.  When I can't figure something out, I've learned to say, "Hey Siri, how do I . . . " and she leads me to the answer.  Amazing!!

Here is my new toy. 

I ordered a clear case with shiny red edges so I could see that pretty white back which I love.  ♥

Just A Phone Call Away

I always think I need to have pictures, but guess what--I have no new pictures.  I do have a new cell phone! And here's the story.  About six years, or more, ago, Ann and Eric gave Dan a cell phone for Father's Day so he could call home when he's out and about in the woods.  With the proliferation of cell phones, pay phones had all but disappeared from the landscape.  For years, when Dan was on his way home, he would stop at one to tell me where he was and when he'd be home, but it was getting harder and harder to find one to use.  The cell phone was actually for both of us--for Dan to use and for me to have peace of mind.

So, Dan carried that phone with him for years, until that one became so outdated he had to buy a new one, and then he took that one.  The operative word, however, is work.  The only time he remembers to take it with him is when he's working.  And I appreciate that!  But whenever we'd just be on the move, chances were very good that it was not with him--it was home, in the drawer in the kitchen.  "Rats!" we would say, when we'd think of need for it, "We don't have the phone again!"  

Tuesday, grandson Cameron had a soccer game at a school in the neighboring town.  I knew where it was supposed to be and even printed out directions to get there.  Upon arriving at the school, we noticed a football team was practicing in the field.  Hmmm.  The game must have moved to the high school field, so we made our way across town and into the general vicinity of that school. And yes, there were mumblings in the Explorer about the fact that the cell phone was in the drawer and we couldn't call Ann to find out what was up.  I was heard to say, "This is it! I am going to get my own cell phone and it's going to live in my purse!" And Dan agreed.

Meanwhile we were having no luck finding the high school. We could see it, but we couldn't figure out how to get there.  As we wound around and around the hills, we finally spotted a lady walking her dog and asked her.  We were close!  Following her directions, we found it and parked and headed for some soccer games we could see in the distance.  A young woman walked by us and hearing our ponderings over which team might be Cameron's, asked who were were looking for.  When we told her, she said their game was at the school we had first gone to.  We told her there was football practice going on and she asked if we'd gone to the lower fields. Of course we hadn't because we didn't know there were lower fields, which it turns out, were only accessible by driving a few blocks past the school and turning left and following a winding street which led to the other side of the school.

So, back across town we went, figuring we'd all but missed the game, but knowing we had to explain what had happened.  When we got there, we spotted Ann on a hill, looking for us, as she had been doing for about forty-five minutes.  She had begun to suspect (correctly) what had happened, but of course, couldn't call us.  

We did get to see most of the second half of the game, but missed Cameron's score (of course) which was early in the first half.  His team won!  They haven't had a lot of wins, so this was sweet.  

As soon as we left the game, we went to the store and bought my phone.  It's nothing fancy, but I can run it and I've even learned to text.  The important part is that it's in my purse and next time we'll be able to call. I've put Ann's number in my contacts!