I’m beginning to think that the world of text messages and instant communication through the web is making me lose my people skills.
Yesterday, upon texting a (semi) ex-boyfriend, my phone rang. It was him. I was so shocked that he’d actually chosen to call rather than text that I stalled for four rings until realizing that maybe I should pick up.
I did. We talked. I went back to class.
But it got me thinking. Have I drowned in the world of technology so much so that I now have issues talking on the phone? Even with close friends, unless either parties are spilling a long, detailed story, we usually opt for texts over actual conversations. Even the T-Mobile rep whom I spoke to the other day while paying a bill pointed it out to me.
“Wow, someone hasn’t been using their minutes now, have they?” she asked.
I laughed and professed my addiction to texting. Thank God for that unlimited plan.
What’s funny is, when meeting a new guy, I hate when he decides to text rather than call. Maybe it’s just me, but it gives off the impression that he doesn’t care enough to go out of his way, that he’s got some sort of boundary or wall put up that will eventually come out into the open. And since I’ve given up on playing games (which pretty much cuts out dating), I choose not to deal with it.
I’m thinking I might need an intervention…with myself.
Totally. Agree. And same thing with dating people, too. I met one of those text-happy guys. Bad news, that one. “Text me when you get here and I’ll come out and meet you;” “I’ll text you when I’m on my way home;” “I’ll text you and we can make plans” which, of course, is also done via text messaging. And then when he decided things weren’t going his way, did I get a phone call? Of course not. I got a text. Saying that he was going to write me a letter. Are you kidding?! So I sent a text back…saying don’t bother.
i’m sitting on my roof, as i like to do whenever it is nice, and reading. i’m amidst elizabeth gilbert’s journey to india, learning about her struggle with her mantra. then she feels it - the blue electricity pulsing through her body.
i, too, suddenly realize something about yoga - this roof where i am sitting this very second would be the perfect place for practicing. my builing is relatively small as apartment buildings are considered - i’ve heard it was a homeopathic hospital after a war, a structure built in the 1800s. whatever the history, there is a great little piece of roof just beyond my kitchen window. it’s a level lower than me, but access simply requires stepping onto the balcony railing and hopping down. why didn’t i think of this before? i used to practice yoga almost daily - then i broke my wrist when i had the crazy idea last winter that i could be uber alternative and learn to snowboard. oops. the view is nice, too, for the city. the yard is very green with lots of old trees. it can be really relaxing.
now i have an idea brewing…
this morning i felt super nostalgic for some reason. maybe it was the chilly morning breeze that woke me up, causing me to sleepily reach for the down comforter pushed to the corner of my bed. it could have been. or maybe it was later, when i was watching the morning news and good morning america, something i did every morning the first three weeks i was at my new job, living in the intern bedroom at work because my apartment wasn’t ready yet. it was early autumn - a gateway to my favorite time of year. the opening music to our local news station reminds me of the cadence of a marching band - something also iconically autumn, hand-in-hand with cool weather and football games. just hearing that sound, i can smell crisp air and falling leaves. it could have been the music as well.
cue this time of year, by better than ezra: “well there’s a feeling in the air/
just like a friday afternoon…” and then follow it with every better than ezra song i am so attached to, reminding me of the million memories of all my favorite times with friends.
when it comes down to it, i think it’s always the music. through the good and the bad, the music is always there. funny, but doesn’t it seem like music is everything we always want a good boyfriend to be? we make great memories with it, and then it reminds us of them. it gives us an outlet for anger, a reason to be happy, comfort when we’re sad. no matter the time, the place or the situation, there’s a song to go with it. every moment of every day, we are making the soundtracks to our lives.
