Sometimes I fling myself into the future and hug technology close to my bosom, afraid I’ll be left behind or miss something if I don’t take that step forward. And sometimes I stubbornly balk and cling to old ways.
As a writer, I fell in love with computers quickly. It just took me realizing how much easier they were to use when I needed to correct mistakes or rethink a sentence. Instead of having to start over, or use a product called Wite-Out tape or liquid to conceal the errors, all I had to do was push a button labeled delete.
While I was far from expert at dealing with computer quirks – and there were and are many – my best friend is a techie. And there are backup geeks when my own logic fails me. In my own way, I understand computers. We get along.
Yet, when it comes to smart phones, I seem to have a phobia. I didn’t even come into the cell phone age until my work demanded I get one – and they paid for it. From the very first, those danged things have felt like a ball and chain.
It was with great reluctance that I finally joined the age of smart phones – and the danged thing has plagued me ever since. If it is not one thing going wrong with it, it’s another. A phantom is always turning the sound to mute, I hit the dismiss button when I mean to answer a call, or things go wrong that I don’t understand.
But my recent three-week road trip to Texas did finally give this stubborn, balky old broad a sudden appreciation for it.
Lost in Austin, after my outdated Garmin GPS gave up the ghost, I was forced to use my phone – for the very first time — for directions. I hate to admit it, but the danged “smartie” saved my bacon. I got to my Story Circle Network board meeting on time. And it later guided me through San Antonio, which I believe must have the worst traffic in the world, and then though Houston and Dallas.
Now if I can just figure out how to make it give me notifications for when I receive a text message, I’ll apologize for all the times I’ve cussed it out. Maybe…
Pat Bean is a retired award-winning journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is a wondering-wanderer, avid reader, enthusiastic birder, Lonely Planet Community Pathfinder, Story Circle Network board member, author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon (Free on Kindle Unlimited), and is always searching for life’s silver lining.
Pat Bean's blog 
Pat, You are not alone. I depend on my phone just like everyone else, but it is not a love relationship. And why get attached when the next model is always coming out? Glad you’re home safe.
You call San Antonio traffic worse than Houston?
Glad your smartphone helped you find your way.
Happy 4th of July,
Pit
Loved this blog entry. Just came into the 21st century with a smart phone. Yes, it is a nuisance and a godsend. The GPS is great on it compared to old GPS devices that never seem to be up to date. To get notifications, just go to Settings and look forSounds & Haptics, scroll down to Text Tone, open. Then choose/click on Text Tone. Exit. This should give you a sound like a ding or whatever you choose when a text message comes in. This is for an iPhone, but there should be something like this for an android phone. Hope you can get it set up. So happy that you keep writing this blog; it is great!