At this point in my life, I’m not a big fan of the telephone.
It can take a lot of time and energy to convince myself to make the call, especially if I know I’m likely to have to work through endless phone menus or get put on hold multiple times and shuffled between service personnel.
(Yeah, looking at you insurance companies, utilities, etc.)
There were periods in my younger years when the phone was an important lifeline and source of connection – when B used to travel a lot on business, when I was away from my mom.
Even after my parents retired near us, I usually also spoke to them every day by phone, even on days when I also saw them in person.
Those calls were not hard to make. Or receive.
I still use my landline for calls whenever I can and still have an answering machine to pick up if I can’t – or if the caller ID suspects spam, which is most of the time these days. All three of us happened to be out together earlier this week and I went to check the machine for messages when we got home. I realized that since Paco (my father) died over two years ago I seldom get personal messages on my phone.
Actually, it’s longer ago than that because Paco forgot how to make phone calls in his last months.
Somehow, though, I keep checking for a call…
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Linda’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday/Just Jot It January today is “make the call.” Join us! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2024/01/26/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2024-daily-prompt-jan-27th/
Joanne Corey 