I have a cell phone. Not because it’s something I’ve always wanted–I haven’t. My husband and I decided to forego a land line, opting to use cell phones exclusively. He has had a cell for several years and likes it – I, on the other hand, have only had mine for a few months and don’t share his enthusiasm.

To be fair, I’ve never enjoyed phones of any kind. I’m sure that goes back to my early years when telephones hung on the wall and several people used the same line, each group of people having their own unique ring. I remember our particular line supported twelve families and our ring was one long chime followed by two short chirps. Consequently, whenever our phone rang, twelve others did too, so anyone who wanted to could easily pick up their phone and eavesdrop on the conversation. There was absolutely no privacy. Therefore I learned not to say anything that I didn’t want repeated.

Back to present day, I reluctantly decided to purchase a cell phone so I could keep in contact with family members and for potential emergency situations. I ran into a couple of problems though. One, the phone was too complicated for my needs. I only wanted to make and receive calls, not browse the internet or take pictures. Those are things I’ll never use, but a plain and simple cell phone is hard to find this day and age. And second, I refuse to keep the cell on my person at all times. Unlike most people, I don’t want to be tied to my phone 24/7. Hence I’ve been known to miss a call or two on occasion. But I must have this phone, if only for those circumstances when I might need it!!

The ringtone, when I got the phone, was the same jingle you hear on countless other cellulars. My son, eager to play with the settings, changed the ringtone to a rap! I was okay with that, though, as it is different. One day, however, I was shopping at Wal-Mart and as I was approaching an elderly couple in the laundry soap aisle, rap music began playing. I thought, ‘Wow, they’re really into modern music. I would have never expected people of that age group to listen to that type of music.’ As we passed, they both looked at me in an odd, surprised fashion while I looked at them in much the same way. It then occurred to me that the rap was coming from my cell phone! I had forgotten that I had put it in my purse before leaving the house. The caller was none other than my son, checking to see if I would recognize the ringtone. What timing!!