This is in response to the Writer's Post Blog Hop hosted this week by Cat Graham at "Cattitude and Gratitude". Growing up the telephone was the only way we had to keep in contact with my Dad when he was on the road. He was an over the road truck driver most of his life. Back in those days they didn’t have cell phones and when they finally invented them they were so bulky and expensive that most folks like my parents couldn’t afford them.
Because of that my Dad was forced to
use payphones to call home, his dispatcher, and brokers. My Dad would call home every Sunday and
Wednesday night like clockwork, no ifs or maybes about it. He would
share where he was and where he had been, ask how school was going for me, and
end the call with an “I love you, be good!” To be perfectly honest, those destinations and places went in one ear and out the other. I never remembered where he said he was or where he was going. After a while my parents invested in a toll free phone number for the
house and finally a pager to make communication a little easier.
Things have sure changed since those
early years with cell phones being inexpensive and readily available. At this point, we no longer have a land line,
just a cell phone. That cell phone is my
life line. It allows me almost constant
access to my husband at any hour of the day or night. We talk, we text, and send each other
pictures. My son, daughter, and I talk
to their Dad every night. It makes the
time apart bearable. It keeps us
connected. I never have to wonder if he will call, only when. My husband is the only other man besides my Dad that I could always count on to call me hell or high water. Once again, no maybes about it. It is not the same as being
together, but it is the next best thing and a far sight better than only
talking twice a week. Thank heavens for
technological advances that continue to bring everyone in the world a bit
closer.
I often wonder how we survived w/o cell phones and the internet!!! I wouldn't be at all happy if there was no cell technology with my guy on the road. I was watching a very early episode of Seinfeld the other day when they were in the Chinese restaurant and George needed to use the pay phone but people kept grabbing the phone b/f he could. It was hilarious the first time I saw it in 1990 or 91, but now it's so dated!
ReplyDeleteJoJo, it is amazing to think that we grew without the internet and cell phones. I think we did all right though. The kids today with their fingers texting and their sole attention on their phones instead of noticing the world around them irks me. I am happy to have the contact with my husband. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteYou are very correct.Those were the days when even landlines were not easily available.Now every Tom, Dick and Harry is carrying a cell phone.
ReplyDeleteUsha, you can say that again!!! LOL Thank you for stopping by and for your comments! ♥
DeleteThis certainly took me back in time. What DID we do before cell phones? :) We don't even have a land-line at our house anymore because we don't need it.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Martha, we did away with our land line too. It simply made no sense to pay the extra bill. Thank you for stopping by and for your comments! ♥
DeleteI remember calling folks at 11:00:01. Of course, when I moved to that thriving metropolis of Charlottesville- the phones were automatically busy until about 11:30. They either had only one long distance connection (not likely) or were trying to convince the rest of us that calling after 11 was not the solution to the problem.
ReplyDeleteCelebrations.biz, funny. I think a lot of people used to wait to call long distance until after a certain time because the rates would be cheaper then. My dad always did that. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteI always wonder how we made our cross country family trips without a cell phone.. Talk about being sitting ducks for all the freaks of the world but I remember plenty of flats, plenty of kids getting car sick and my dad just pulling over and handling the situations and I knew in my child's mind we were safe..
ReplyDeleteMiMi, I remember those cross country trips. Dad always insisted we have a CB in the car but Mom felt the static was annoying so while it was in the car, it was never our and never on. LOL I always felt safe too. It never once occurred to me that anything remotely bad would ever happen. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteNever mind cross-country. I wonder how we ever went to Six Flags or Disney World without one. "OK, everybody remember to meet back here at exactly 11:30! Everyone have a watch? 11:30! Don't forget!"
DeleteAnd someone always would. And then you'd have to hunt through the whole park looking for them.
I, for one, don't miss that. :)
Gary, cell phones sure make life a lot easier at the theme parks!! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!
DeleteThis took me back in time, when I was doing my MBA and staying in a hostel... a bunch of us would go at night (after 9 pm or so) on weekends to the market at a Pay Phone Booth, because the tariff was low at night and call our parents at home. Of course, now we cant imagine our life without cell phones, in fact we are glued to them 24x7!!
ReplyDeleteShilpa, I know what you mean!! We had a pay phone in the dorm that I used regularly to call home. Now that I have I cell phone I can't imagine ever being without it. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments.! ♥
DeleteI remember those trunk call days and the pay phone days too, Kathy. The mobile phone is such a cool invention especially when people in professions like your Dad and husband can keep connected with family! In my post, I've cribbed about their overuse though! ;)
ReplyDeleteCorinne, I agree and it really has become a true asset to the trucking industry. I agree with you on all levels on its overuse. Kids abuse it the most with their constant texting. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!
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