Posts Tagged ‘phone’

You know that saying…”you don’t know what you have until it’s gone?”  Unfortunately, that statement is extremely applicable to me right now.  As many people may or may not know, I’ve never really had a fancy phone before.  From high school through college and beyond, it was always some dinky thing that could only make phone calls and receive text messages…at best.  I think a lot of my phones weren’t even in color until I graduated from college.

That being said, a little over a year and a half ago I had my first smartphone.  It was like driving a beat up Oldsmobile my whole life and suddenly being handed a Lexus.  It was sleek, beautiful, and…I’m ashamed to say, my gadget baby.  Suddenly I could not only text, I could CHECK EMAIL.  I could play games.  I could check into foursquare and yelp…the world was at my fingertips.  In short, I was hooked.

There were moments where I took it for granted or got mad at it, like when it wiped out all my contacts.  Of course, I admit I wasn’t that faithful. I would eye the other latest phones, ponder existence with something new like the Nexus One…but nevertheless, my iPhone was my faithful and useful companion.  It helped me out in so many ways, especially with the GPS capabilities (I tend to get lost a lot).

And this past weekend, as I was snowboarding and took a few falls…I realized that my iPhone had slipped away from me, another artifact claimed by a Tahoe mountain amidst the lost gloves, goggles and other things lost by fellow boarders.

I was really upset, and still upset now, but I didn’t realize how dependent I was on the phone until I instinctively reach into my pocket.  Earlier, when I was waiting for someone, I realized that I could no longer idly pass the time by with my phone.  It’s as though a part of my body was missing, and I didn’t think about it until I needed to use it. For the few friends that read my blog - yes. I need your number again. Bah.

Sigh.  It’s back to the basic phones for me now…at least, luckily until my contract is up.

Goodbye iPhone, I will miss you.

Recently - and I don’t know why - I’ve been getting random phone calls from numbers that I don’t recognize. For some people, it doesn’t really matter whether or not they know who is calling; they will pick it up. Of course, as long as they are available to do so. I, on the other hand, will stare at the phone while my mind churns out the different possibilities of who is behind the mystery number.

A part of me yearns to pick up the call from the unrecognizable person or automated machine. But I resist the temptation. The main reason I attribute this somewhat strange behavior is related to the fact that my mother said to NEVER open the door to strangers. Ever. Even if it’s a girl scout. She managed to drive this message deeply into my skull by concocting ridiculously frightening scenarios.

For example:

• If you open the door a stranger will force their way in AND KILL YOU
• If you open the door a salesman will make you buy things and TAKE ALL OF YOUR MONEY
• If you open a door to a Jehovah’s witness they will make you convert AND RUIN YOUR SOUL

At any rate, much like the physical door to my home, I keep my digital doorway shut and bolted tightly.

Of course, I just can’t help but wonder about the caller, and the different possible reasons for trying to reach me on my phone. These calls don’t really bother me…until they don’t leave a voice message. Suddenly, for a split second after the rings subside, my mind reels at the possibility that I just lost the chance at gobs of money or a trip to Hawaii. Or Paris. Or the chance to meet a long-lost cousin that is a gajillionaire.

The moral of my story? Leave a voice message, and spare someone like me the momentary depths of imagined regret.