Patty Mayeux Blog

Do you remember when a phone was just a phone? Way back when, before answering machines, a ringing phone as you unlocked your front door was an adrenal jolt. Your heart raced as you stumbled up the stairs or around the corner to answer. You lifted the top half of the princess phone and heard the dreaded dial tone. What if the call was important? Who was trying to reach you? Oddly, I miss those days. I miss being disconnected from technology, as impossible as that sounds. The cold metal rectangle that is attached to my palm is a tech marvel. What began as a communication tool has morphed into a machine that literally answers all questions and attends to most every need, or has it become a wireless ball and chain attached with no release?

This month I’ll be setting the phone down in exchange for detached means of getting tasks done. Reading actual paper books. Driving to a store to look and touch and feel, even smell, purchase options. It means no scrolling upon waking and no streaming at night for power down time. Taking longer walks. Playing CDs or even scratchy records. Better yet, playing an instrument. I’ll use my computer for writing, posting and zooming and I will answer my wireless rectangle when it rings. I mean, there is a limit to how much off-gridding one can do. Could you do it? If not for Lower Tech January then maybe an Unwired Wednesday? However much I refrain from palm perusing, may my tiny corner of the world be more peaceful and meaningful.