Oh No......I left My Cell Phone At Home

Nomophobia refers to a psychological syndrome where a person is afraid of being out of mobile phone contact. It is coined from a term "no-mobile-phone-phobia. So now that there's a name for it let's delve into this from a purely lighthearted point of view.

"Pardon me I have to get this," those are the words we use to hear at home or at the desk in an office. Now we hear them, at the dinner table, a restaurant, a party, and yes even at the theater, pretty much anywhere people can talk. I have even seen them, (blue tooth enabled), at religious meetings. Nowhere is sacred! "Riiing, riiing"....Sorry I have to get that.................Sorry about that, now where was I? Oh yes, it seems that we can't get away from our phones, no matter where we are. Leaving them at home is almost a cardinal sin.

For some of us, our phone is our lifeline to the world. Face to face conversation appear to be less and less desired, as the technological age progresses. For instance if we are out with friends, and our phone rings, we will take the call and carry on a conversation with the one on the phone, and virtually ignore the person we're with. " Riiing, riiing,"......Oh there it goes again, be with you in a moment...........Back to what I was saying, and we don't think it's rude to ignore the person we're with, and give all the attention to the caller.

Is it just me, or have you ever wondered what we did when we could only talk on the phone to our friends, associates and even bill collectors, when we were at home? I use to look forward to the time when I could be away from home and the phone. Now if I leave my phone at home, I'm in a panic. What if my daughter calls about the old song on the radio, that she needs to know the title and artist. Maybe my son will call about, what to take out for dinner (he cooks), or my friend will call just to tell me about her day. What in the world will I do if I missed those calls while I was out? You just know those things couldn't wait until I got home, and they had to be addressed, right then. " Riiing, riiing,".......pardon me I have to get this.

My first cell phone was the old brick phone. I bought it in 1988, because I was self-employed, and needed to keep in touch with my office. I was never comfortable with using it in public, although to some, they felt, it made you look important. To me, it made you look silly, holding that, what looked like a literal brick, up to your ear was not my idea of impressive. When my phone would ring, (I had to answer it), I'd hide behind a wall, tree, or anything that I could find, come to think of it that looked silly too. I was really glad when they shrunk the phones.

It appears that when they come out with something new it looks strange and takes some getting use to. A case in point the Bluetooth earpiece. I tell you I can't get use to that either, it looks like something from a futuristic movie, (a space alien if you will), there again, to some it is impressive, but again not to me. "Riiing, riiing,".......oops, gotta get this. Oh my, what if I had left my cell phone at home this time, I would have missed the cute little gem that my granddaughter just said.

What would we do if we left our cell phones at home, and was unreachable. Oh, I don't know, you think, maybe wait until we get home. Bite your tongue, shame on you for thinking such a thing. Isn't that the sentiment most would have, or at least that is the implication of always having the cell phones with us.

I was trying to reach a friend the other day, by calling her cell phone, during the time she was on her way to work, and while she was at work, (now wait a minute, it was important, yeah, right, I needed to ask her opinion on something), and I couldn't reach her, and I nearly panicked. When I did reach her she said, now get this, that she nearly panicked too, because, she had left her cell phone at home. She said that she was about a mile from home and toyed with the idea of going back home to get it, but didn't, and all day she felt lost without it. Mind you, she has a phone at her desk, but that just goes to show how attached we are to those "little beasts."

Oh, don't get me started on all the new communication gadgets, the BlackBerry, iphone. Just think about it, we've nearly dispensed with face to face conversation, now if we don't want to hear voices at all, we just text, no need to listen to that "annoying sound coming out of someones mouth." It's unfathomable, to think what comes next. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the cell phone as much as the next person, but I do miss a good ole face to face with no interruptions from the little, dare I say, "beast."

"Riiing, riiing,"........No, I'm not getting that this time, I'm going to finish what I started. Oh, that felt good, must try it more often, or maybe not. Now where was I, oh yeah, face to face conversations use to be fun, for those of you who haven't tried it in awhile, give it a go. Just in case you've forgotten, here's how it goes. Sit down with a friend, turn off the cell phone, look your friend in the face and go at it. I guarantee it will be fun, unless, unless, they're boring, in which case, ease your hand, (while still looking the person in the face, and feigning interest), on the "on" button and just wait, it will all be over soon. So what have I proven, not much of anything, maybe just that we are living in a new age, a new technological age, that takes some getting use to.

So, the next time you say "oh no, I left my cell phone at home," don't panic, you could be starting something new for yourself, or not. Oh, just go back and get it. You won't feel whole without it. I know I've been there.

Let's dispense with all the frivolity and be serious. I highly recommend carrying a cell phone at all times, especially women. I'm sure many lives have been saved, due to having a cell phone. I know mothers of small children are relieved to know that at their fingertips, there's instant access to their young ones. So, seriously, the next time you say "oh no, I left my cell phone at home," turn right around and get it. However, be sure to use it wisely, don't use it while driving, and by all means be courteous to the one you're with.