dark ages

I am not a true American. Know why? I don't have an iphone, android, HTC, or whatever all of the cool phones are called. Almost every American I know has one, except for me. I have a trac phone that I can talk & text on but not take or receive pictures. I have no cool apps or a gps to guide my way. It is a phone that is good for emergencies. And the best part about this phone, a good friend actually gave it to me because she was so tired of me not having cellular service. Thanks friend. This phone has saved me on some occasions (when I remember to bring it with me). 

this is my phone

 Some days I really want to be up to date & have a really cool phone that I can take great pictures with and post them right away to Facebook. I would like to play Angry Birds. I would like to look up the nearest McDonald's when I am in an undiscovered city. I want to be cool like everyone else. I want to be up to date!

But I hesitate to get one of these glorious technologically advanced machines. The price of these dear phones is not the problem. The addictions to these machines is the problem. I do not want to be addicted. I don't want to make sure that my phone has it's own seat when I go out to dinner. I don't want to pause in a conversation so that I can check to see who just texted me or updated their Facebook status. I don't want to make the person I am with 2nd best.

I read this the other day, multitasking. I was grateful for this post. It made me think of what's really important. I want to be present in the life that surrounds me. I don't want to be lost in a phone.

Sooo, what to do? I have been having this phone dilemma for a while. Rich & I actually went a few months ago to get phones, or me a phone rather, and I backed out. I was in the store ready to purchase it. I had it in my hand. But I said no.

I have decided that if I get one, I will have to make some rules for myself. The ones I can think of so far...

1. It will not go to church with me. Yes, I know it has the scriptures on it & that will be great for when I am sitting at the doctor's office, but it also has internet & games. That will be a distraction for me. I will bring my hard copy of the scriptures to church. 

2. It will not have a place at the dinner table.

3. I will not pull it out in the middle of a conversation that I am having with someone unless it is relevant to the conversation. Seriously, how often is that phone call an emergency? 

I know that it is pretty much inevitable that I will have to come out of the dark ages and join the rest of society. I think that I am ready. A lot of days I wish that I already had... but not enough to take the jump. 

source

Soooo, is the iphone really that cool? I'm totally missing out! :)

Today I love books. Hard copy books. I'm sad that it seems to me that they will one day be extinct. But like phones, I will have to get something like a kindle just so that I can read a book.