All my life I have had a telephone in my house. The one I remember first as a child was our old black rotary dial with the cloth cord that we shared with my grandmother. The phone was very heavy and had a certain distinction. It took two hands to hold the receiver. It was our home's fancy gadget of the time. Gram lived with us until I was about 11 or so. Our telephone line was a party line and to be honest, I cannot remember what our ring code was. I do remember when the phone rang we had to wait to see if it was "our ring" or not, and that evoked a bit of excitement every time it rang. With the advent of cell phones and all the features provided through cell phone companies the "land line" became for some an option. Jack and I had talked about jettisoning the land line several times over the years, but we each had ties to the past that made that choice seem like we were cutting off one of our arms or hands or something like that. Yikes. How can one do without the HOME PHONE !!! A cell phone just doesn't have the same feel, nor nostalgia, nor solid connectedness, you know, to the wall and like that. Well, its time for the annual budget review, and 3 phone bills a month are just not working anymore. Jack's cell phone is a pay as you go plan that is a really good deal. Mine is a monthly fee with enough hours and coverage for a teenager...therefore plenty for me. So, there at the dining room table, budget splayed out before us, with tapping pencils and sighs we made the fateful decision. Nix the land line. Then, who was going to call? "You make the call", "no you", "no you, it is in your name"..."well you talk better", "I don't know the number to call", "it is on the bill, you call". I chuckle now, but at the time it seemed wrenching. Silly, huh. Letting go of the past, something so strongly connected to the past. Oh my, will we be able to do it? Adapt to only cell phone and just move on. Let's see. So Jack made the call. It took a bit to get through to a real person. Did we want to give a referral number? Jack talking and I am pacing. "Yes, yes we want to give a referral number", so Jack gave our home phone that we are getting rid of. "You can't use that number" the lady says, oh... well then, "No, no referral number", "when do you want to disconnect?" the lady asks. "Immediately" Jack says...."Immediately!!!" I have a heart attack... "why not? The lady on the phone thinks it's OK." "Alright, immediately". "Will we still have 911 service?" "Yes" the lady says, but only 911 calls can go out. Jack hung up the phone. We both stared at it. That was the last call. Quiet. "I've got to go email everyone and let them know." February 29, 2008 the day we got rid of our Home Phone. |
