I GOT A NEW CELL PHONE 2 ½ weeks ago. Big deal, you say.
Well, if you’re me, this is a big deal. You see, up until Halloween, I did not own a cell phone.
I know, I know, that is difficult to believe. But I have, for years, resisted getting a cell phone. I told myself I really didn’t need one and couldn’t justify the added monthly expense.
Then my second-born handed over her cell phone before leaving for a six-month stay in Argentina. I got used to having the darned thing. When she returned to the United States and I had to give her phone back, I kind of missed it. Yet, I didn’t cave in and get my own phone.
But then she went to Argentina again and, before leaving, handed over her cell phone for the second time. That did it. Upon her return in October, I got a cell phone and so did my husband and our 16-year-old son. Our two daughters upgraded.
I still cannot believe that we (I) did this. Me, the last hold-out in modern civilization now owns a cell phone with a slide-out keyboard. And I am texting, yes, texting.
My new, very own, fancy schmancy cell phone with slide-out keyboard.
Initially I balked at the very idea of texting. Why would I want to text? How could I possibly tap out a message with my thumbs on such a small keyboard? I am. (It doesn’t work to use your index finger; I tried that.)
I won’t win any texting contests. I’m slow. And the writer in me struggles with the language of texting—the abbreviations, lack of proper punctuation and capitalization.
But…I’m adapting. I type “u” for “you.” I punch “r” for “are.” It is sad and pathetic and I feel almost like a traitor to the English language. I wonder if someday while writing a story, I’ll write like I’m texting.
That brings up an interesting point. How will this style of communication affect today’s younger generation? Will they know how to spell? Will they be able to write complete and properly punctuated sentences?
Will they know how to communicate face-to-face?
I am sounding like an old-timer here. I realize that. But when I consider advances in my lifetime, technology marks the biggest change. I grew up in a house that, for the longest time, did not have a telephone. When my parents finally got one, we were on a party line and answered our number—2074—to two long rings.
During my freshman and sophomore years of college, the one phone in my dorm was four floors down and shared by everyone.
I remember when I thought getting a cordless phone was a big deal. I still have that free-range phone and my corded landline.
How many phones does one woman need? Do I really, truly, need a cell phone? I still struggle with justifying the expense.
That is me, though. I’ve always been frugal and slow to embrace technology and change. I wasn’t the first in line to buy a microwave, a computer, a VCR or…fill in the blank. My television is a freebie garage sale 1990s vintage set. It works just fine, thank you, unless the weather is humid or windy. (Yes, I rely on an antenna for reception.)
Now I have this cell phone. I suppose eventually I will want to upgrade to internet capabilities. But first I need to learn how to check my voicemail, take photos…
WHAT’S YOUR TAKE on cell phones and how they impact our lives? What are positives and negatives? Share your thoughts in a comment to Minnesota Prairie Roots. I’d like to hear.
If you wish to congratulate me on my cell phone acquisition, feel free to do so. You won’t be the first, though, to do so.
© Copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Cute story…dang how that technology creeps into our lives. I do not have a cell phone either, but with being in my house with daycare, I don’t yet feel the need, however, I do like it when I am “allowed” to use my daughter’s phone. My sister just asked me last night if when “I grow up” if I will buy a cell phone…I just laugh cuz it doesn’t bother me to not own one…yet.
I am with you on all the abbreviations that are used and how that affects the way people write. Texting is the big thing..I don’t think my daughter talks to anyone on her phone…
I think our phone # was two longs and a short…seriously, how do we remember that…Mom told me that she didn’t have a phone till she had four kids!!! It’s a fast moving society that we live in…I myself prefer the Andy Griffith and Little House on the Prairie simple life….
Have a great day…and congrats on your cell phone, Audrey!
Do our attitudes toward cell phones have anything to do with our growing up on the southwestern Minnesota prairie? I think maybe so as we grew up in similar circumstances. Big families. Little money. Lots of love. I too prefer the Little House on the Prairie lifestyle although I do like my computer.
How do we remember those party line rings? They must be imprinted upon our memories. I remember when we had a fire on our farm before the days of a telephone and my mom had to run to the neighbor’s place for help. Dad was gone with the single car they owned.
Thanks for sharing your comments, Bernie. I had no idea that I was not the last cell phone hold-out. You are!
Wow, I am feeling quite “fortunate”? to have had a cell phone for about 2 years now! But, then I guess I am just a bit younger than you Audrey!! Ha! I guarantee you that once you get used to having it you will wonder what you ever did without it. I also do a lot of texting mostly with my two teenagers and some with my husband now that his plan includes texting. What a change from those party lines from years ago.
Congratulations Audrey! Enjoy! I will have to get your number so I can txt you too!
I expect, like anything else, I will wonder how I ever managed without a cell phone. It’s great for staying connected with my three kids and the husband. I can’t text him, though, because he doesn’t know how to text. We have unlimited texting to anyone, anytime.
The teenage son instructed me not to text him unless I have something important to say. Isn’t everything a mom says important? And who, exactly, is paying for your cell phone, I may ask him?
Yea Audrey. When we got our cell phones and e-mail a few years ago my sister joked about us finally being in the real world. I need to now get into texting so I can keep up contact with the grandkids. However, there is something to be said about hearing the inflections of a real voice and being able to benefit from immediate responses.
We have joined the real world by getting cell phones, haven’t we?
I do appreciate your excellent comments about voice inflections and immediate response. I think because those are not present in texting and e-mailing, it’s easier for people to say hurtful things they would not normally say face-to-face or in a phone conversation. We all need to be careful how we utilize these methods of communication.
I do know that Hillary (our niece) can still text in long hand (write out the whole word) as she did it for the family reunion texting contest. This really impressed cousin Dave/Vicki B. Don’t worry about being one of the last ones. My boss still doesn’t own one, all his children and wife do. He just doesn’t want me to be able to get ahold of him.
Smart boss.
I’m rather proud that I waited this long to get a cell phone.
i am still a holdout on cell phones, kinda. I have a cell phone for work but I do not personally own one. I have no interest in texting. My fingers don’t move that fast. enjoy your blogs!
I say if you don’t feel the need for a cell phone, don’t get one. They are nice, but not always necessarily a necessity. In all honesty, mine isn’t a necessity.
My husband bought me a cell phone with a something or other so that he can always find me. Just thought of that word – GPS -The phone sat on the dresser for about 6 months, then we were having a family reunion at Woodland Park in Seattle and I wanted to be able to get in touch with and receive calls from nephews and brothers that were going to be there. I don’t know why they thought they had to call me, we met by the pony rides for many years and didn’t need cell phones. For that occasion I learned how to answer it, how to call out on it. Now it rests comfortably in my purse. OFF I turn it on when I have grkids with me so the parents can always reach us. And on my trips to Long Beach or Seattle so that everyone can call me if they absolutely have to check up on me. I don’t answer it while I’m driving, but have learned how to retrieve messages. WOW I’m feeling so modern and worldly. We did have a phone in West Concord, I think our number was 115…Grandmother Shelton was on a party line, I don’t remember her ring, but do remember her talking about rubbernecks.
I love your story about all the reasons you “need” a cell phone. My favorite line is the one about meeting by the pony rides.
I totally relate to the spouse-finding factor of cell phones. Before I got mine, I had to borrow phones twice in recent months to track down my “lost” husband when we were together at events. It may work well in spacious discount stores also. Many times I’ve roamed and roamed the aisles trying to find him.
Ah…, party lines and rubberneckers…those were the days. Such memories…