Saturday, May 21, 2011

Technology....

It's a love/slightly not like relationship for me. This technology stuff. For a person, such as myself, who tends to be "a reactor" in life, the instantness of our gadgets can get me in trouble! If I tweet or post my status on Facebook it is INSTANTLY OUT THERE. Sheesh, it would be lame for me to post something else within the next ten minutes (even though my status has changed) however that is how it goes sometimes. Up-Down-Hot-Cold-Happy-NotSoHappy. In some ways this whole social networking thing has made me a bit of a shrinking violet since not only do the people closest to me know that I am similar to a fart in a whirlwind, EVERYONE on Facebook or Twitter can be aware of that fact as well.
And what about cell phones?! Hands down, no doubt about it, they are useful and convenient. I know I am going to "date" myself as I roll down memory lane, but heck it wasn't that long ago when cell phones were non-existent except to perhaps secret agents and spys. Back in high school if I really liked some one, I would somehow figure out how to let them have my phone number. And then the waiting would commence. Hoping beyond hope that when the phone rang it would be for me AND that my sometimes bratty younger brother would not answer the phone first. Or my parents, who always asked too many questions. IF the phone call was indeed for me, most likely the whole family would be able to listen in on the conversation as I was CONNECTED to the wall or desk by the phone. Luckily my parents had long cords so I could stretch into the pantry for a bit of privacy. There were no answering machines when I went to high school either. My younger brother (yes, the bratty one) certainly did not fit the description of one either. Ideally (in a pefect world)should he be the one to answer the phone,he would write down an accurate account of who the caller was (with more detail than "some guy"),and write down any pertinate information relating to the call. My brother employed his own unique style. And he was expensive, since bribery is never cheap. It was always very "iffy" on whether he would actually pass on information to me when he anwered the phone, or totally RUIN any chances I had with the caller by making what he called "small talk". I'll give you an example: "Oh you want to talk to my sister? Why? Oh. O.K. even though she thinks you are a jack-hole and only wants to ride your motorcycle? So do you want her to call you back? Yea I thought so. Later."
As awful as it sometimes was at least I did not have to live with the angst of NOT getting a call. With caller I.D., messaging, e-mail, everyone having their OWN cell phones there really is no way to excuse non-communication.
That's where the love /slightly not like part comes in.
In the midst of all this instant communicating I am working to STAY IN THE MOMENT (but not let everyone on Facebook and Twitter know what that moment is about!) When reflecting on how we used to communicate, a phone call never happened while walking, paying for your groceries or driving your car. So if I am going to talk on the phone, write a note or update my status...I hereby make a vow to FOCUS on what I am doing at that moment and make it magical, which should be easy if I am not thinking about the traffic, the checkout person, whether I bought enough tomatoes...

2 comments:

Hema Penmetsa said...

I totally hear you, Laura! What did we do before we had cell phones? Now, if we don't answer a ringing phone, we're taken over by guilt or visions of horror -- what if it's the school nurse trying to reach me in an emergency? What if it's a new opportunity that passes me by if I don't answer.... Argh!

Good for you for committing to live in the moment! I have a similar attitude towards facebook and all the other social networking sites. The friends I have are not so insecure to want to keep tabs on me every moment... :-)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I have a friend who is now a quite successful romance and mystery writer under her name and her pen name, but at one time she worked at borders. She said it really bothered her when people talked on their cell phones the whole time they were checking out. It was as if she didn't exist. I try to never talk on the phone if I'm with anyone, whether I know them or not.

Do you remember having a party line? I'll have to tell my daughter about that some time. She thinks bag phones are hilarious. I remember thinking how wonderful they were when I was pregnant with her 16 years ago. I felt like I was rich...virtually no one I knew had one. :)

Fun post. :) You made me smile...