I miss those old phones that
stuck to the wall,
sat upon our desks
majestically awaiting a voice on the other end.
it was ceremony, wasn’t it?
anticipating jingle jangle ringsong
wondering who’s on the other end;
a surprise! every time.
I loved the feel of the chunky plastic or the heavy metal
and how the handle cupped our ears
and mouth.
of course one prided oneself on how lonnnggg your cord was!
could you snake your phone
into the living room?
up the stairs?
into the closet?
down the basement?
stretching, stretching till those curlicues were nearly flat!
lines physically connected us,
at one time
where now we are freed from wires.
mostly.
we’ve become closer as a result of
constant communication, constant digital connection,
but is it more truthful to say
that very closeness
may be a tad illusory?
like most things in life—
from yin to yang—
even dreams conjured from our own choices,
all depend on what we do with them.
what will you do,
with your one wire-free and technological life?
L.S. 10/24/22
Photo was taken in my back yard. The phone once belonged to Frank Furko; I purchased it from his estate sale because I wanted something to remember him by. I never knew him personally, but he was a special fellow… and so was his cat, Pudgie Wudgie! See here! And here!
laurie sliben, writer 