Saturday afternoon was the kickoff of Badger football for the season. It was a sunny afternoon in Madison and a victory made it better.
We had two extra tickets for the game. Grasshopper No. 2 wanted one ticket for one of “the boys” because she was short a ticket (she had her own tickets).
Enter “cell phones”. We used cell phones to contact Grasshopper No. 2 as she approached the stadium to confirm our respective locations and ultimately connect up to enter the stadium together. We would met in front of Gate No. 10. Remember that Gate Number. Did we need the cell phones? No. Were they convenient. Yes.
Grasshopper No. 2’s family got split up during the ballgame because some sat with us in our familiar seat location and some stayed with her in the lower deck. Actually there was a switch of members at half time.
After the game, the plan was unclear. Fear not! We have cell phones. We can talk immediately after the game and make sure Grasshopper No. 2’s family could leave together. We were in the upper deck with her Son No. 2. She was in the lower deck directly beneath us with Son No. 1. When the game ended, we made a call to Grasshopper No. 2. No answer. More calls to No. 2. Still no answer. We know she had the cell phone turned on. Her vibrator system on the phone was active. She wasn’t responding to vibration. Aren’t cell phones great. On this particular day we wanted to get out of the stadium and weren’t anxious to stay for the infamous 5th quarter.
Then as I was looking down from the upper deck to her section, I spied Grasshopper No. 2 and family. There she was. She was looking up. She was waving. She was enjoying the music of the 5th quarter. Obviously she had not checked her cell phone. So from the upper deck I flashed 10 fingers to signify Gate 10 and pointed in the direction of Gate 10. Her face lit up with understanding and 5 minutes later we joined up in front of Gate 10 to return her property (Son No. 2). All was well.
Imagine that! 10 fingers did what cell phones with vibrators (along with instant messaging capabiliity, GPS information sharing and internet connection) couldn’t do. Fingers visually conveyed details of our meeting. 10 fingers cost nothing (it reminds me of the Indians sending smoke signals). Isn’t the Power of Ten amazing. The only thing more powerful than ten fingers is sometimes one finger. Huh.
Love,
Dad