by Dave Whalley
The other day I realized I lost my phone. What a huge pain in the ass. Sorry, can I say that here? I delayed several days before giving resolving myself to the possibility that my phone was gone. GONE!!! Every picture, ring tone, silly game and, most important, every contact, gone. Ive never been one to think ahead and back things up. My handwritten address/phone book is outdated and mostly useless.
Well, I was fortunate in one way. I had been using a pay as you go plan, which I was able to turn over into a contract plan. This allowed me to get access to more features, pay less for more minutes AND get a cool new phone for next to nothing while keeping the same number. Not bad at all. I wasnt all that fond of my old phone, anyway. It was too small, I could barely read the screen and the speaker had stopped working, so it would only vibrate and it didnt hold a charge all that well, either. Good riddance, I say.
But, what about those contacts? Oh, those contacts. There were classmates and cast mates from various theatre endeavors, some of which I am pretty sure I will never work with or see ever again, casual contacts from parties and functions and odd bar conversations, most of which I would not be able to pick out of a line up. The digits of friends which have long since expired as those friends have moved, also lost phones, or changed numbers to avoid the occasional stalker. In other words, the loss of the phone was really a good excuse to simplify that bulging, overfed list of contacts for contacts sake.
Finally, some of those lost contacts were, indeed friends. Some great, some casual, but all friends. I surely did not want to loose them. So, I scoured my email lists filled in some gaps where I could and finally sent the inevitable I lost my phone email out to them.
When I opened my email this morning, I found messages waiting from many of those lost contacts. Many of them were from folks I had not been in contact with, whose contacts were dormant in that tiny, vibration only phone for way too long. Most of my morning has been spent, entering digits, replying to emails and ultimately, reconnecting.
I guess its the time of year (Im geeky about the holidays), but the experience really warmed me and caused me to appreciate those contacts.
There are so many things we have come to rely on like cell phones and internet (yes, Im getting old er), and life gets fast and furious and even frustrating as time seems so very limited. This holiday season, I encourage you all to consider loosing your cell phone, or at least take a scroll through the contacts in your phone and find a few to reconnect with. It may do your busy heart some good.
Peace, and Happy Holidays.