Waiting By The Phone

Picture this: a woman waiting by the phone.

It is an age old story that has been played over and over again.  She sits there patiently waiting for a text message or a call or any kind of notification.  She needs to know that she is still alive.  That the universe is bound to give her some kind of response soon.

She waits and she waits.

As she sits there, the time drags on so slowly.  Minutes seem like hours and hours like an eternity.

She waits hopelessly.  Desperately wanting some kind of sign telling her that it is okay to hold on.



But, like every modern story, the romance is taken out.  Like every modern story, the woman is longing for something that a man cannot give her.  She is not waiting for a call from her lover.  She is not wanting the response on the other end of the phone to be that of love.

She just wants her phone to work.



The girl in that story is me.  The story has been played out so much that it really isn't a story any more.  It should just be expected as a way of life by now.  I should know better than to just assume that my phone will work.  I should know now, by phone number 19, that some times technology just doesn't agree with some people.  I should know now that technology just is not my friend.

Every time I get comfortable with a phone, it breaks.  Just stops working.  Almost like the universe is trying to keep me on my toes.  Make it so that it is impossible for me to stay in touch with people.  Make me realize that technology is a double-edged sword: it is great until it isn't great.



So, this time, when I hold my phone, I will hold it a little bit more gingerly.  I will love it with a love that isn't ardent or comfortable; instead, I will love it with a love that is tender, but questioning.  A love that doesn't give it all away; a love that holds back.  I will be smarter this time.  I will be more wary of how I feel about it.  I will not wear my heart on my sleeve or even in my hand-held device.  I will be guarded, safe, protected.  I will welcome my new phone into my life with partially open arms.  I will treat it as a guest in my life, and not as something that I expect to stay.  I will acknowledge that it should be taken care of ever so sweetly, however I will always be aware of it's flaws.  I will be knowledgeable of what to do if it ever decides to start a war and take me down.  I will not go down without a fight.  This time, I will know that my phone and I are both vulnerable.  I will not take advantage of it's presence in my life again.

Good riddance, old phone.  I wish you well but I hope for better circumstances for both of us in the future.