Cell Phone Leashes

Remember the time before everyone and their mother/sister/brother/grandma/newborn cousin had a cell phone? I don't.

There isn't 10 minutes that goes by without an annoying commerical on TV about a cell phone service provider telling me all the bars they can provide me with in all the different locations I will ever be in. Shove it. My parents actually have ditched the portable phone we used as our "house phone" for my entire life, to replace it with a small little flip phone. Every time it rings I can't get past the weirdness of using a cell phone as a home device. It was more cost efficient I guess.

They are our ball and chains, our leashes that keep us within everyone else's reach no matter where we may go - with the exception of out of the country...and even then, you just have to purchase a phone there. I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but every time my phone rings I feel like I should answer it; like not answering it and awknowledging that someone is trying to contact me is rude. Is it? I feel like in reality, I don't have to do anything. I don't have to answer the phone if I don't feel like it. I have a right to retain SOME privacy in my life. Why should everyone be able to get ahold of me anytime they feel like it? There was a time when that wasn't possible. A time when answering machines sufficed if someone didn't pick up. Now I get a text message following the missed call...or an instant message...like I'm being hunted down. I've begun to ignore calls once in awhile. Why? Because I CAN. Boooyaaa!

Don't get me wrong - I am definitely glad to have a cell phone. I wouldn't be able to stay in touch with Dan as much, being so far away from him most of the time, and it makes me feel much safer when traveling or driving in case of emergencies. Cell phones are a great advancement, but where do we draw the line? I have seen commercials for "track phones" and phone-like devices for children to carry around that actually shows their physical location on a parental monitor. REALLY??? Yes. Unnecessary.

Can't wait to see what those techy nerds come up with next.