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*Ring Ring* (repeat 4 times before the answering machine picks up)
Friends and family know better than to attempt to call me at home. My siblings and I don�t believe in answering our home telephone. It�s against our religion. Actually, it�s not but we steer clear from doing it as though it would taint our souls if we did. If you need to get in touch with us, we�ve got cell phones. That�s what they�re for. And if the call to our home is really important, the person would leave a message (unless they have that weird complex where they can�t stand the thought of their voice being recorded).
The only calls made to our home number are courtesy calls, and we�ve all got better things to do than listen to someone gab for ten minutes about why we should switch our long distance provider (no offense if this is your current occupation). So we dedicate our phone line to our internet connection, preventing calls from even coming through a good 90% of the day.
Sometimes friends will come over to our place and the phone will ring. And they think it�s the oddest thing that we completely ignore it.
Friend: Umm . . . your phone is ringing. Aren�t you going to answer it?
Me: What? No. We never answer our phone. If it�s important, they�ll leave a message.
Phone continues to ring. Answering machine comes on. Caller hangs up.
Me: See. It�s never important.
Friend: Uh. I just assumed you guys were never home. I definitely know not to call that number again.
Me: You�ve got my cell phone number. You�ve got a better chance of catching me there.
Friend: Umm. I usually get your voicemail.
Me: Yeah, but I always call you back, don�t I?
Friend: Umm. Yeah. Days later.
Me: Oh yeah. Sorry bout that.
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*Ring Ring* (repeat four times before voicemail picks up)
Now that�s my cell phone going off. It�s usually set on �quiet�, which is normally why I don�t answer it right away. But thanks to Caller-ID, sometimes I just don�t answer (but that�s usually a rare instance). I�m just not a big phone person. Never have been and probably never will. If I had to, I could live without it. The primary reason I have one is to be able to exchange brief information (i.e. where and when we�re meeting up or directions on how to get to a place). I don�t like using the phone as a means of carrying �deep� conversations or long gabbing sessions.
Something is lost in the art of conversation when you can�t see the other person�s expression (this is also why I�m not a big chat person either). Without the body language and the facial expressions, jokes lose their punch, stories lose their thrill, compliments their sincerity, and serious topics their magnitude. I love being able to sit down with someone and just watch their expressions as they talk. The way some people move their hands with every word, or fidget with their napkins or utensils (like moi), or look at you directly in the eyes or slightly glance away with every other word. Body language is such a key ingredient to a great conversation, which is why chatting on the phone or on IM is unappealing to me.
Unfortunately, it�s the only way to keep in touch with those friends who are miles away. But even then, I prefer email and I�d rather save the conversations for when we see each other in person--even if it`s months away.
I don�t know why I�m going off about this. The phone kept ringing this morning and the person wouldn�t leave a darn message. I was extremely annoyed, and so I guess I needed to vent. Thanks for listening. Now resume chat session.
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