When I was growing up, the only way you could get me out of bed from age 6 was by shouting loudly that I’m missing the morning cartoon. With the sound of “carttttooooooon” screaming through the house I would leap out of bed and race to the TV where I would spend the next 15 minutes absolutely glued to Tom and Jerry while eating my Strawberry pops before getting ready for school.
Age 12 and it was a whole new ball game. Suddenly the cartoon had little impact on my morning rising and literally the only way to get me out of bed in a good mood was by shouting that there was a phone call for me. it didn’t even matter who was on the phone. All that really mattered was that I was important enough to get a phone call.
As time went on, I spent more and more time “sitting” on the phone. I remember one day when my dad even sent someone to the house to tell me to get off the phone because he was trying to call me. I’d spend hours on the phone with friends I had seen at school that very same day. We would talk about boys, other friends, sports, school stuff and general teenage ‘stuff’.
Although this went on for years, as I got older, I started being less and less a fan of the phone and its endless neediness. It’s weird to think how much we change over the course of our lives and the things that once we couldn’t live without, we have come to despise and feel awkward about.
As an adult, I despise talking on the phone. Anyone who knows me knows that I will respond to messages within minutes, but try to call me and unless you’re my mother or grandparents I will usually ignore your calls. I also avoid at every cost having to call anyone up. Thankfully my husband has taken over making any insurance related calls and he also (lucky guy) gets to make take out orders.
I have also grown out of, socialising in loud noisy and smokey places. Once “the ultimate party animal” as described by my best friend, now nothing sends me hiding away from the phone more than an invite to a night on the town. Instead I love chilled nights in, dinner parties and quiet drinks with friends. It is suddenly very important for me to be able to actually hear the conversation.
I wonder how much important information I’ve missed out on in my lifetime under the mid music screams;
“what did you say???”
“I said asbaibfiabfaibfs”
“whhhhhaaattttt?”
“Nevermind”
I know you know the kind of conversation I’m talking about. So if you’re calling me up to invite me out on the town to some loud ass venue where we can’t hear each other and there’s nowhere to sit… then don’t be offended but I probably won’t answer the phone.
DaniP says
I am totally the same! I am happy to message you anytime of the day or night, but do not phone me, I hate talking on the phone and the thought of having to call someone is so daunting for me 🙂 BUT when I was younger you couldn’t get me off the phone.
TyrannyofPink says
haha that’s funny considering your job involves talking to people all the time! 😛