Cell Phones

I read a blurb in a magazine letting me know the first iPhone released in the US was in 2007. And I started thinking of all the ways cell phones have changed our lives.

It was 2014 when I got my first “flip” phone (Samsung), which was long after my husband was issued his first mobile phone for work sometime in the late 90’s. According to the internet, Motorola was the first company to develop a handheld mobile phone which was released in 1973 (50 years ago) weighing 4.4 pounds! The first commercially available phones were introduced 10 years later (1983). Today, most people can’t leave home without their phone.

I was excited to get my first phone. It was red. And at the time I had a red leather coat, and red leather gloves, and a red leather purse – I was all decked out. I no longer color coordinate my phone. HA! We got our first iPhones in 2018, and that is the kind of phone we use now, and like.

Cells phones have improved a lot (and gotten bigger!). In addition to the actual function of calling and talking to people, a lot of us use our phones as our camera, and what would we do without our GPS to guide our way to so many places?

And it’s nice to consult Siri. Siri has a lot of answers, and it’s convenient that we can ask her anything, anytime. 

Texts are also fun…and maybe a preferred way to communicate these days. Who knew? I often dictate my texts, and if I forget to proof-read them, they can be an interesting read with the way the technology translates my words. 

I’m thankful for the mute button, so as not to be interrupted when it’s an inconvenient time. 

I think the down side is…everyone is looking at their phones all the time…airports, restaurants, stores, every…single… place…and some feel the need to immediately respond to a text or call. 

I met my friend for breakfast the other day and she had forgotten her cell phone at home. She didn’t need it of course, but she was uncomfortable without it. I get it. I’ve been there. When we stopped to pick up a few things at a large box store, we were separated from each other and it was interesting to walk the aisles to find her, both of us missing her cell phone.

I remember when my son left his cell phone, his only phone, in our house, years ago. He left for his apartment in the cities (or so I thought), so I called him to let him know he forgot his phone at our house. I burst out laughing when I heard his cell phone ringing on our kitchen counter! (He just had run an errand and came right back.) 

I know my phone can do so much more if I would only take time to figure it out.  It’s amazing to think about how much our phones have become a vital part of our lives…for the good and not so good.