Beyond Talk

For those of you who are Facebook friends, you followed my angst this week over the lost cellphone. The drama started Tuesday morning and ended around noon today.

Yes, I was careless. Late to a water aerobics class on Tuesday, I hurriedly pulled my gear out of the back of the car and rushed into the building. I later realized my cellphone was missing and we raced all over the house calling listening for James Brown to mock me with "I Feel Good" -- which I definitely didn't at the time! We retraced my steps from clubhouse parking lot through the indoor and outdoor pool areas dialing all the way.

A few hours later after searching every nook and cranny in the house, we called Verizon and suspended service to minimize the damage in case some thief was downloading with wild abandon and calling relatives in Timbuktu.

Wednesday we visited the Verizon store expecting to replace the phone and came away shocked. I figured since my phone was no longer the latest and greatest, I'd be able to replace it for a semi-outrageous amount.  I walked away rather peeved at the smug unhelpful attitudes of the store employees and vowed to purchase a new one from anyone but them.

Thankfully, I'm cheap and didn't go for the instant gratification.  Early this morning I checked my Facebook and found a message from my cousin in Kansas City. Joan So and So has your phone. Her number is 520-URN-LUCK!

Seriously? I was hopeful, but doubtful.  Would he dare tease me about something like that?   After playing phone tag with Joan for an hour, I hit pay dirt. 

How the woman extracted his number from my phone after the service was cut off, I do not know. And why she picked the cellphone up in the parking lot and didn't turn it in to the lost and found at the desk on her way to the pickle ball courts is also a mystery, but I don't care now. It's back!

Craig called and restarted my service at lunch today and shortly afterwards, the phone was chattering and dinging like a slot machine spewing its pent up anxiety over missed calls and messages. Fellow diners stared wondering 'what the heck!'

Lessons learned this week? Next time I buy a Smartphone, get the insurance coverage. Those devices are way too expensive and way too attractive to thieves. You may get the thing for $49 with a 2-year plan, but you'll pay $699 to replace your outdated model if you didn't buy their coverage. 

The second lesson? I depend on the thing way too much. It's not just a phone, it's an addictive toy. It takes photos, tells me how to get from Point A to Point B, gives me instant access to the internet -- on and on and on. And when I'm bored at night, I create little pieces of art from my old photos. That's what I missed the most!