I wonder how I remembered phone numbers before I had a cell phone...

I wonder how I remembered phone numbers before I had a cell phone…

A friend of mine recently lost her cell phone, and I learned from her what a tremendous upheaval is was to her life. Losing contact information for so many people we have relationships with would be traumatic…As I myself learned today when my husband had my cell phone and I had his….

Picture it…Sicily… well, really it was highway 67, but this always sounded so picturesque when Sophia Patrillo said it…anyway, just picture it, I was driving Gary to meet his ride to work, when he realized he forgot his phone at the house. Of course I had mine, because what woman wants to be out at 4:30 a.m. and break down or get a flat tire, without a cell phone??? Anyway, back to our originally scheduled blog…

Since I had my phone, and being the kind wife that I am oikll;pkm vaoi w98degfuw-943rjtopiw---sorry, excuse me..coughing fit…anyway, the kind wife that I am, I told him that he could take mine and I would take his for today…

Thus the feeling of total isolation that I have now regarding my link to everyone that I know. I hope I don't have to call the dog groomer…her number is in my phone, but do I know how to reach her without the contact list? NO! And I hope I don't want to call the dentist, eye doctor, or my satellite Internet provider before Gary gets home this afternoon. My relationship with all of these entities is on hold until such a time as I have my cell phone back in my possession.

Even more alarming is the fact that I cannot call my brother or my sister on their cell phones at the moment. I don't need to talk to them at the moment. Which is good, because I don't KNOW their cell phone numbers. I have them saved to the contact list in my phone, but I don't KNOW them in my brain to be able to call them without my phone in my hand!!! And they're FAMILY!!! Although it may take me just a second, I WOULD be able to call them at home. But, they aren't probably at home! ? Duh!

SO, how in the world did I remember phone numbers before I had a cell phone to save them for me? Well,it was a little easier when I was very young, (not that I used the phone to call anyone very often, when I was very young…but I digress.) because at one time, we only had to know 5 digits to make a call locally. Then it was all 7 digits, still not bad, because the first 3 were the same for almost anyone I needed to get on the line.

Now with SO MANY prefixes and the ability to access cell towers in other area codes even, it takes a major mnemonic (thank you, George McKenney) to think of anyone's telephone number and be able to dial it from memory alone! Truly a troubling and depressing state of affairs.

I used to feel relatively intelligent. ( If you know my relatives, you know why!...oh snap! Just kidding!) I mean, I think of myself as a smart person, in general. Are we just so overwhelmed with digits that we are not capable of remembering the numbers anymore? Or are we just spoiled and lazy because technology has lulled us into letting go and relying on our various devices?

Try this...go to a landline phone, IF you even have one or can find one...and try dialing a few people you talk to on a regular basis, without looking at your contact list. If you can dial at least ten of the numbers by heart, you may not be in a hopeless situation. Or better yet, have someone scroll through your contact list and QUIZ you on the numbers you have stored! You may be surprised with the results.

I don't think I'd do very well with that scenerio. I have some numbers stored that I very rarely need to call, but when I DO, I don't want to take the time to look them up, so I have them saved. I would not be able to tell you the numbers for Dog & Suds drive-in, or the union hall. But if I have my phone in safely back in hand this evening, I will be able to call them if I want to!!

Hurry home from work Gary, and keep my phone safe today!