I've often thought about this 'texting' revolution that has taken over since telephone calls and writing letters got left behind. I don't text. I never felt the urge or need to text. I have an older cell phone and it does have the capability to text but I ignore it. I have received text messages and quite honestly, I just laugh and delete them. Grandpa and I are on....I guess you would call it.....the 'simple' phone service contract. That's ok because we are pretty simple when it comes to using our cell phones. We have unlimited long distance which is a necessity with one daughter living in Wisconsin, but we are charged if we text. So, that eliminates texting which, like I said, is just fine with me. As far as I'm concerned, texting takes the 'personal touch' out of conversing with people. In addition, I think it gives people an 'out' from facing a person when they have something to discuss that might be a little uncomfortable. Example.....breaking up a relationship. Yes, I have known people to do this or even carry on a knockdown, drag out fight over their cell phones via text in stead of in person. And, I'm sure there are lots of other examples of what flies across the phone lines via a keyboard. Not to mention, the deadly auto accidents happening because the driver was texting when he/she should have had both hands on the wheel of the car. Is it worth it?
However, I do realize that texting has its place under certain circumstances where the ringing of, or talking on, a cell phone would be distracting to others around you. In some instances, it can be down right rude! In our post office, there is a sign right on the counter "Cell phones not allowed". They must have had a real problem with the use of them to put up a sign. I was in a drugstore once when the druggist was trying to explain how to use medication to a customer who was busy yakking on her cell phone. Finally, the druggist popped off "When you are finished with your call, I will be happy to come back to the counter and help you" and walked off and back to filling other prescriptions. I wanted to jump up and say "Yeah, get off the friggin phone".
Well, I could go on all day on the topic of texting but I really wanted to touch on the subject of writing letters...you remember that, right? When we would pass letters back and forth in school or actually write a letter, put it in an envelope, stick a stamp on it and MAIL it?
I bring this up because when we cleaned out our attic in our house in Milwaukee, we found a box of letters (love letters) written back and forth between Grandpa and I when we were in high school. OMG!! What a treasure!! I have to admit that reading some of them make me giggle...we were soooo young and naive. I now have them stashed away in a safe place (not too safe, I tend to forget my 'safe' places sometimes) and every once in a while will drag one or two out and they make me realize why I fell in love with him so long ago.
Are love letters still being handwritten these days? If not, they should be. Years from now, they are a memory that you can actually touch and feel. It's a wonderful thing to be able to do.
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