Some days, all you can do is laugh at yourself.
In a year filled with personal challenges
and new experiences
I've encountered an unexpected hurdle.
I've recently upgraded traded up to a smart phone.
Not the smartest phone,
but definitely smarter than the old one.
(The kind referred to in movies as a $10 burner phone.)
And yes, it will make certain
communications easier.
And, yes, I expected a certain learning
curve would be involved.
The biggest challenge, so far?
Learning to carry it.
A gadget that has to be on or near my person?
At all times?
In an accessible manner?
Who thought this would be a good idea?
Do I want it in my right-hand coat pocket
when I run into the store?
Then my keys have to go somewhere else.
When I return to the car it has to be
removed from the pocket
before the seat belt is applied.
Can't just dump it in my purse
can't leave it home
can't answer it in the car
can't stand the thought of carrying it
from one room to the other.
And on and on and on.
The old phone was treated as
a phone. It sat on my desk
- next to the land line-
unless I was using it.
Which wasn't very often.
In fact, I blithely and
routinely ignored it unless a road
trip was scheduled.
It was a safety net for solo travel situations.
I still ignore the new one
when I'm in the car.
Absolutely.
It stays in one spot when I
roam the house.
I'll figure it all out
It stays in one spot when I
roam the house.
I'll figure it all out
but it makes me laugh to think
I've joined the ranks of those who sit
in parking lots to check
their latest message.
6 comments:
Unless there is a compelling reason to have your phone with you at all times, the choice is still yours whether to carry it or not. When I have students here, I am required to be available by cell 24/7. When students leave, my phone gathers dust. There is nothing urgent in/about my regular routine that requires instant access.
That's pretty much what I've decided. For me, it's a tool - not a lifestyle. Instant access has never been my mantra and there's no reason why it suddenly should be.
I leave mine in my purse, but that's because I feel no compunction whatsoever to answer it. I check for messages regularly and I love the convenience of internet connection but I rarely have sound turned on and I find my approach suits me very well. . . My husband lost 2(!) in December, to his huge frustration. He deeply resents the associated learning curve and with consulting work, doesn't feel as free to ignore as I do. Ah, technology ...
The girls I work with at the library - 20 somethings - can barely remember a time that their phones weren't within reach. I'm finding a comfortable stretch of middle ground with mine. While I don't plan to inflict myself on others by using it carelessly in public, there is a certain associated relevance in having and using it efficiently. Another fine line to navigate as we age...
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