An Exercise in Estrangement

I have now been phone-less for almost 6 days.

Rather than detailing the events leading up to this loss of what some may consider a part of myself or an extension of my arm, I would rather wax eloquent on the overall effects of this situation.

25 years ago, cells phones were merely a figment of the imagination.

Then Zack Morris starts carrying around his brick.

Now... I cannot function without a cell phone. I dance with it, sleep with it, and have occasionally showered with it. If its not in my hand, its in my pocket or on the table. We have a special (if not very unhealthy) relationship. Especially since I've come back from Europe and realized that I can text/call anyone I want, and I don't have to worry about ever running out of minutes.

So being without it has been... interesting. Not that this is the first time that my phone has been inexplicably separated from me (someone stepped on it once.) But... it is still tramatic none the less.

For one thing, I don't really feel safe without it. Ever since my car broke down in the middle of a semi-abandonned freeway and my cell phone was dead, I feel vulnerable if its not in perfect working order. So that's excuse #1 for always having it with me.

But on the up side - not having a phone allows you to kinda "check out" of the real world for a while. Maybe get your priorities straight. (And you have a legitimate excuse to ignore all phone calls.)

I've used my cell to walk unimpeded through the MSC during campaign week. Or to find my way out of Montparnasse in the middle of the night. What better reason to always have it with you? So although this week has been a chance for me to reevaluate my attachment to my cell phone, I don't plan on trying it again any time soon.