First, I’ve got to correct an error in my last blog. I said that son Paul was receiving a BS in Economics and Communication from from UW-Milwaukee last Sunday. Boy did I guess wrong. When I went to school a Bachelor of Arts was bestowed on cirriculums that had a foreign language. Paul did not take a foreign language. He got a Bachelor of Arts degree. Go figure. His actual degree was in Organizational Administration. I liked my Economics and Communication label better. Well today he is a graduate of the College of Letters and Science with a BAOA degree. That should clear that up. Pay attention, you’ll be tested on Friday.
Now my Cell rant. Cell phones allow telephone companies to charge outrageous prices for many services of questionable value. Could we live without this little device vibrating in our pocket at any hour of the day. No way! Would we miss the tune Yankee Doodle Dandy which plays from memory when Bubba calls from the local pub? You bet! Would we miss the secretive text message from Carla in the steno pool saying “I’ll meet you after work”? Are you kidding? She is a nymphomanic.
I have a cell phone. It is great to have when security is a problem. It can used to summon 911 assistance. Doctors are available instantaneously. I can think of a million clever positive uses for a cell phone and conclude that this is a great device.
But enough is enough. I have been in a restaurant with special people in the recent past. The guest has had a cell phone and he/she has not turned it off. So part way through the dinner, just about the time you are going to tell your guest you love them, their phone goes off. The guest answers, “how are they hanging Bubba”? “What’s up”.? Something really stupid. Usually the conversation is three times louder than most conversations in the restaurant and everyone at the table is embarrassed. Come on! Then there are more calls during lunch. 4-5 calls at least. Meanwhile all the people at the table have to listen to the personal conversation. Talk about rude.
Here is my bottom line. When you go to lunch/dinner with me and you answer a personal cell phone, you are at great risk. First of all, that cell phone may end up in some body location where the sun don’t shine. See how that feels when it vibrates to the next call. Second, you might just end up sitting alone and picking up the check because I won’t be there. You just told me that I wasn’t as important as the next call coming in. Especially when I pay for lunch, the least I should be able to expect is an your undivided attention.
Please turn off the cell phone in personal situations and make believe that being with someone special is important to you.
Now to end on a high note. How great is it that Paul’s son Dominic could call his dad “on a cell” in sea of 1800 graduates Sunday and exhange personal feelings. Really special!
Love,
Dad (just Chas.)