The Day I Forgot My Phone…
And Survived…
The day started off like any other Saturday, a crazy rush to somehow get two ‘children’ to two different locations in a short space of time. As the crow flies it’s doable, but the roads around here are winding country roads that add kilometres to ‘as the crow flies’ journey.
On returning home I got stuck into preparing dinner and re-potting our cactus. Having two young dogs who are rather partial to chewing cactus, it’s a job I kept putting off until the phase passed. Believe me, the phase went on longer than I expected, how many cacti can a puppy chew before it realises there are more pleasant things to chew? Quite a few it seems!
Saturday afternoon was busy too with running around, but as I was busy Neal took the ‘children’ to where they had to be. Which was perfect as it gave me the chance to finish re-potting the cacti and take Buddy, our youngest dog for a ‘training’ walk around town.
That Was When It Happened
As usual, I was behind schedule and I was rushing to get things finished so I had plenty of time with Buddy in town.
With everything packed away and a bag full of training treats, I hoisted the dog into the car. Try as I might, to encourage Buddy to jump into the back of the car, he either can’t or won’t… I’m guessing he won’t! He’s big, he’s heavy, he’s still a puppy!
I jumped into the car and drove off.
I don’t know if anyone else does this, but as I am driving my mind wanders to things I have done and to things that need to be done? I would probably benefit from doing it before I left the house, but hey-ho!… It was then that I got the dawning feeling that I had forgotten something. I had the dog, I had his treats and poop bags… But I hadn’t picked up my own bag! That was still hanging on the back of the chair. Not only that, but my phone was in it!
That’s When The ‘Panic’ Set In!
Believe it or not, I am not a big phone person. It can be ringing and dinging and I can ignore it for hours. I have set it so it goes into silent mode for twelve hours overnight, the children and my parents can get through if there is an emergency. Often it’s left in the bottom of my bag for hours before it occurs to me to take it out and my Mum is always complaining that I never answer the phone.
But when I am out and about I do like to have my phone on me. I like the security of having it on me. You never know what might happen! Knowing I didn’t have my phone on me sent my mind into overdrive, the ‘what ifs’ started to come thick and fast.
- What if I have an accident?
- What if the children have an accident?
- What if my husband has an accident?
- What if my parents have an accident?
- What if, whilst walking Buddy in town, we get attacked by a pack of wild dogs and need help?
- What if I’m late picking up the ‘children’ and they worry where I am?
- What if the car breaks down?
- What if I run out of petrol?
All totally irrational thoughts I know, but a sign of no matter how much I don’t use my phone, I still need to have it nearby.
Many Deep Breaths Later
I reigned in the crazy thoughts and continued to drive into town. The nearest we came to a disaster (I use that word loosely) was when I saw the ferry coming in and we had to run to get back to the car before it docked, so I wasn’t late picking up the ‘children’.
My brain went off into overdrive again, thinking how would I let anyone know that I’d had an accident whilst trying to pull out onto the harbour road and everyone who witnessed that accident had forgotten their phone too? I know there was no logic in thinking like that, but it’s how my brain works… Deep breath, check out the nearest tree to hug…
You Know What Though?
I can now say that I forgot my phone… And survived!
There were no accidents. My ‘children’, who are seventeen and twenty years old and are longer get children survived and were none the wiser. We were not attacked by a pack of wild dogs and we made it home with plenty of petrol still in the car.
It Did Get Me Thinking
(The thinking never seems to stop!).
How on earth did we survive before mobile phones? I had a childhood that was spent riding my bike away from the house for hours on end. Or exploring the fields nearby, talking to cows and playing in a barn. We even went ghost hunting in the local school and graveyard and no one ever got that hurt.
Although I do remember a friend of mine breaking both wrists after launching herself off a swing and landing on her bike. We just dusted her off and walked her home, not even realising what damage she had done to herself. And she survived.
It Has To Make Us Think
Are the younger generations going to grow up being more prone to anxiety because of technology? After all, I would never consider myself ‘addicted’ to my phone, but I forgot my phone and ended up all twitchy (anyone who knows me will probably say that was normal).
To many youngsters, their phone is their lifeline. It’s their connection with the world, it’s how they communicate. I can now see why telling a youngster who is being bullied online to stay off their phones (or social media) is easier said than done. They genuinely feel that they need their phone and without it, they feel there is a chance their world just may collapse without. The truth is that owning a mobile phone has become a must-have. A pacifier. A crutch. Something had they never had they would never miss.
The truth is that owning a mobile phone has become a must-have. A pacifier. A crutch. Something had they never had they would never miss. Sadly it is also something that, to many people has become a necessity.
So tell me, how does it make you feel if you ever find yourself out and about without your phone? If you were me, would you have had to have gone back to get it?
© 2017, Debbie. All rights reserved.
Kevin says
Ryan says
Debbie says
tracey at Mummyshire says
Debbie says
Tara says
Debbie says
John Adams says
Debbie says
Rosie (@greenrosielife) says
Debbie says
Plutonium Sox says
Debbie says
Mary-the boondocks blog says
Debbie says
Carlee says
Debbie says
Christine says
Debbie says
Tamara says
Debbie says
Anne says
Comedy Plus says
Debbie says
Kim Carberry says
Debbie says