Can You Hear Me Now?

I went to the flea market today, and as I was browsing, I saw this old rotary phone sitting on a table. It was already adapted for use with a regular outlet, and best of all...it worked! I took it home, cleaned it up and plugged it in. The first time that it rang, it dawned on me what a harsh, loud ring it had. Not a ring tone mind you, but the ringer that produces the one and only ring that the phone makes. Do you remember not having a choice of ring tones? The only time my kids had heard this kind of ring was when it was offered as an option on their cell phones...of course the opted for whatever pop artist was popular that week, or perhaps a quote from Family Guy or the latest movie. I watched as they took turns dialing their own cell phones and laughed as their fingers slipped out of the little holes, and they had to start all over. My daughter, now almost 19 made the observation that people really took time with each other..."back then" as she called it. Sheesh! I'm only 46! She noted that you actually had time to back out of a phone call because it took time to dial the number. She noted that you had to stay in one place to complete your call. You can't just pick up the phone, dial a friend as you run out to your car, and continue the conversation. I remember, that if you were talking to your boyfriend, or girlfriend...if you wanted privacy, you either made the call when everyone was asleep, or tried your best to hide in the bathroom or closet if you were lucky enough to have the cord reach that far! Of course, you were just a cord's length away from the taunts of your siblings, and yells of your parent's to "Get Off Of The Phone! I Need To Make A Call!" You were tying up the lines after all. No call waiting! I told my daughter...just think of the time people took with each other before phones, when they had to write a letter, and really think of what they would say before they said it...or better yet...when people had real conversations...face to face.

Can you hear me now?