That’s the consensus among well-meaning (and, oh, so tactful) friends. The topic is getting old for sure, and it alternates between exasperating and hilarious. For some time now, they have been pointed out to me—midway or sideways during conversations—that these days even kindergartners carry mobile phones to school, or that grandmas and grandpas chat with friends or grandkids on hands-free units while grocery shopping. Better yet, according to one acquaintance, even domestic helpers and street cleaners have SIM cards and prepaid subscription plans!
The butt of all these pointed comments is me, or, specifically, my not possessing a mobile phone. And yes, it’s the truth and nothing but the truth. I used to have one of those thingamajigs back in 1994 when it was a much bloated version of what we have today, the kind that would cause concussion should you lob it at someone’s head.
Anyway, I hated it. The thing rang without any regard for the time of the day. And it often went MIA—stashed among the cushions, under the piles of papers, or somewhere else in the apartment—just when I needed it. My boss took its existence as the “Open 24/7/365” sign. So, let me repeat: I detest that gadget, although I do appreciate and salute the technology for giving the world instant connectedness.
Faced with the constant persuasion (or nagging, to put it bluntly), I do sometimes wonder if I should just go out and get one. Sneakily done, of course, like it’s a preemptive strike. Like it or not, as a full-time freelancer, my clients ought to be able to reach me anytime at their pleasure. (They pay the bills, don’t they?) My family should be able to get hold of me in times of emergency. (But then how many “real” emergencies have occurred in the recent past?) My friends need to be able to reach me should they be late for our dinner or movie appointment. (But, mobile phone or no mobile phone, isn’t punctuality a virtue?) Everyone else has one, so why be perverse (even though the herd instinct is not in my blood)?
And so the internal debate rages on. It can be a distraction at times. But let’s not forget there is always the other side of the coin: not having a mobile phone has its moments, like when people are so baffled by the fact that not only do I not have one on me, I don’t even own one to start with. The dropped jaws, widened eyes, knitted eyebrows and flapping hands are comical. “Everybody carries a mobile phone nowadays” is the usual exasperated response.
One overseas client, 12 hours and over 10,000 miles away, is bemused and bewildered on learning that I’m not 100 percent connected. And this offer just came in from him: his company is considering sending over one BlackBerry and footing the monthly bill. (Hey, I can do CrackBerry; I’m addicted to email.) But for now, on the mobile phone debate, I remain defiant. Go ahead, call me a weirdo for all I care.
