Slightly Incoherent Ramblings

Firstly, I promise to actually READ what I am writing today, instead of just posting it, willy-nilly. Yesturday's was something of an embarrassment, and I humbly apologize.

So...we were sitting around last evening, gathered around the fire, and the subject of technology and cell phones came up in the conversation. Let it be known, that I do not own a cell phone. I have no desire to own a cell phone. I can see the use of a cell phone if I am broken down on the side of the road, or if I cannot remember what type of cereal to get at the grocery store, but otherwise, its charms are lost upon me. I am somewhat of a luddite when it comes to technology anyway, and frankly it is a miracle that I have managed to figure out how to bang out these very words that are holding you transfixed in wonder.

But anyway...there is nothing wrong with cell phones really. They are handy, small and come in pretty colors. I could wish that people did not see fit to use them during weddings, funerals and graduations and such, but there are clods everywhere. What I do NOT understand however, is the concept of "texting". You have to write out your message, by tapping frantically on a tiny hand-held device, and then wait for the recipient to read your urgent urgent message and then reply to you.

My question is, how exactly is this progress? It sounds remarkably like a telegraph to me. With a telephone, you can pick it up, dial a number and then TALK to a real person at the other end. You don't have to write things out, and try to abbreviate words and phrases. You can actually TALK to them. Texting is really one one step removed from sending a carrier pigeon for heaven's sake. Why is it progress, to make communicating MORE difficult?

Maybe I'm just too old and cranky. My Grandmother managed to communicate with her entire coterie by simply folding a corner of her calling cards in various ways, and leaving them at their doors. Her friends were able to decipher that she was leaving town, but coming back on Monday, or that the party was cancelled and she was devastated...all without saying a word. Of course, she used to put on a hat and gloves just to go out and get the mail. Frankly, I think that delivering our messages the old-fashioned way...by footmen is the way to go.