I've decided to take a walk to explore the world around me. If you'd like to come along, I'll share my thoughts with you on what I've found on this journey.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tuesday's Question of the Day
When was the last time you used a pay phone? Have you ever used a pay phone? Do you even know what a pay phone is?
Finally, an easy question! Probably in 2005 from an indian casino in San Diego. I never saw the need for a cell phone. After my wife and I had been seeing each other for a couple of months, she gifted me a cell phone. She says her motivation was she felt sorry for me but I think she just wanted to be able to check up on me. Now I'm hopelessly addicted to it.
Of course you can ask Steve... One of the things certain individuals in our lives know is that they can call me/us if they find themselves in a situation they need to get out of. We still have plenty of pay phones here in G-town and surrounding towns.
I'm trying to think if that was the thing that had that rotary dial thingy on it or was that the one that had that lever on the side that was shaped like a "U" and you had to jiggle to get someone's attention. i did call my future father-in-law COLLECT from a pay phone to ask him for his daughter's hand in marriage. You can believe that gave him years of hoots.
You know Camey...after having a cell phone for many years, I think I've become totally oblivious to pay phones...I don't know that I would even know where one is! Isn't that terrible!
Steve: Cell phones don't always work ya know. I'd find out where those pay phones are...
As an FYI for you/readers: Pay phones are seen as cell phones for the homeless and those of lesser economic means still.
Bill: WHAT?? You called him COLLECT and you still were able to marry his daughter? That either says something about him... you... her... or all three of you! ;)
Michael, I do not remember the last time I used a payphone for sure, but it may have also been in Spain. It was the summer of either '95 or '96 on a mission trip to Seville and calling home. It is very rare to find a pay phone anymore except bus stations or air terminals. Charlie Mac
It was a source of conversation for years. He went back to bed (yes I woke him up) chuckling and my mother-in-law asked him what he was laughing about. He told her and they laughed. He brought that up occasionally over the ensuing years and it is one of my fondest memories of him. Camey: no he didn't ask for me to pay him for it. And obviously he said Yes. Life was interesting with him in more ways than one. Before his heart trouble he used to smoke and I am allergic to it. But one time we went to his office to do my taxes and he got this smirk on his face. He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out the longest cigar I had ever seen and lit it up. I about gagged and he howled. He knew it would be bad! He loved telling that when we got home that night. I miss him and loved him a whole lot.
Great story Bill...father-in-laws are interesting men...I look forward to being one of those one day...I'll probably remember a few tricks I've seen from mine...
Remember the booths that had the accordion doors? My brother and I gut stuck in one because we were pushing when we should have been pulling to get out. The booth was located downtown Palestine, Ohio - right next to the water trough. The square did have a traffic light. I believe it blinked yellow both ways. Just down a few steps was the post office that had all the PO boxes on the external wall so that you could just step up and get your mail any old time you wanted. The soda machine sold grape nehi for a single dime.
I have used pay phones since then.. not too often, but they never had the same impact as that first one that we got stuck in. A passerby had to push the door so that we could get out. Once I saw how the door worked, I went back in and came back out. A lesson learned.
I was all of 4 when it happened. Its easy to own up to stories when you are that young. It was a pretty traumatic experience - we must have been crying for about 5 minutes before someone came along and let us out.
We had just moved to that small town and it was the first phone booth I had seen. I don't know that we had a phone in our home at the time.
We lived on the outskirts of town which was about 2 or 3 blocks from downtown if that gives you an idea of how small the town was.
We eventually moved all the way out into the country and got us one of those party-line phones. I was always getting yelled at by people I didn't know because I would pick up the phone and listen to the people who were talking.
Its amazing how things have changed in my short life - what will our kids experience?
Summer, 2003, when I was in Spain and calling the U.S.
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhh, have i used a pay phone before... been called from one numerous times as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm young(er) but not that much.. ;)
Now...I'm thinking there's a story behind being called FROM a pay phone...dare I ask Camey?
ReplyDeleteFinally, an easy question! Probably in 2005 from an indian casino in San Diego. I never saw the need for a cell phone. After my wife and I had been seeing each other for a couple of months, she gifted me a cell phone. She says her motivation was she felt sorry for me but I think she just wanted to be able to check up on me. Now I'm hopelessly addicted to it.
ReplyDeleteOf course you can ask Steve... One of the things certain individuals in our lives know is that they can call me/us if they find themselves in a situation they need to get out of. We still have plenty of pay phones here in G-town and surrounding towns.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to think if that was the thing that had that rotary dial thingy on it or was that the one that had that lever on the side that was shaped like a "U" and you had to jiggle to get someone's attention. i did call my future father-in-law COLLECT from a pay phone to ask him for his daughter's hand in marriage. You can believe that gave him years of hoots.
ReplyDeleteBub...you do know that many of the newer phones have GPS in them? Right? Your wife may also be tracking your goings and comings! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a great story!
You know Camey...after having a cell phone for many years, I think I've become totally oblivious to pay phones...I don't know that I would even know where one is! Isn't that terrible!
ReplyDeleteBill...okay, I can't stop laughing. People in my office will think (if they don't already) that I have lost my mind! That is too funny!
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming he said yes?
Did he ever come asking for the money for the call back?
And to think all this time I thought she just had a great 6th sense! Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteAnd there's that too Bub...
ReplyDeleteSteve: Cell phones don't always work ya know. I'd find out where those pay phones are...
ReplyDeleteAs an FYI for you/readers: Pay phones are seen as cell phones for the homeless and those of lesser economic means still.
Bill: WHAT?? You called him COLLECT and you still were able to marry his daughter? That either says something about him... you... her... or all three of you! ;)
LOL - probably when I was like 14 and at the pool and needed my parents to come get me.
ReplyDeleteHeidi Reed
Heidi...you are just way too young!
ReplyDeleteMichael, I do not remember the last time I used a payphone for sure, but it may have also been in Spain. It was the summer of either '95 or '96 on a mission trip to Seville and calling home.
ReplyDeleteIt is very rare to find a pay phone
anymore except bus stations or air terminals.
Charlie Mac
It's been many many years. I think I was probably around 17 yrs old.
ReplyDeleteIt was a source of conversation for years. He went back to bed (yes I woke him up) chuckling and my mother-in-law asked him what he was laughing about. He told her and they laughed. He brought that up occasionally over the ensuing years and it is one of my fondest memories of him. Camey: no he didn't ask for me to pay him for it. And obviously he said Yes. Life was interesting with him in more ways than one. Before his heart trouble he used to smoke and I am allergic to it. But one time we went to his office to do my taxes and he got this smirk on his face. He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out the longest cigar I had ever seen and lit it up. I about gagged and he howled. He knew it would be bad! He loved telling that when we got home that night. I miss him and loved him a whole lot.
ReplyDeleteAwwww Bill... That was sweet in a smelly kind of way. Thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteAwwww Bill... That was sweet in a smelly kind of way. Thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteGreat story Bill...father-in-laws are interesting men...I look forward to being one of those one day...I'll probably remember a few tricks I've seen from mine...
ReplyDeleteRemember the booths that had the accordion doors? My brother and I gut stuck in one because we were pushing when we should have been pulling to get out. The booth was located downtown Palestine, Ohio - right next to the water trough. The square did have a traffic light. I believe it blinked yellow both ways. Just down a few steps was the post office that had all the PO boxes on the external wall so that you could just step up and get your mail any old time you wanted. The soda machine sold grape nehi for a single dime.
ReplyDeleteI have used pay phones since then.. not too often, but they never had the same impact as that first one that we got stuck in. A passerby had to push the door so that we could get out. Once I saw how the door worked, I went back in and came back out. A lesson learned.
In 1998 in CA when I called the kids while out on the road in the truck with my hubs.
ReplyDeleteTony that is too funny...I can't believe you've owned up to that story...I might have kept that to myself! :)
ReplyDeleteI was all of 4 when it happened. Its easy to own up to stories when you are that young. It was a pretty traumatic experience - we must have been crying for about 5 minutes before someone came along and let us out.
ReplyDeleteWe had just moved to that small town and it was the first phone booth I had seen. I don't know that we had a phone in our home at the time.
We lived on the outskirts of town which was about 2 or 3 blocks from downtown if that gives you an idea of how small the town was.
We eventually moved all the way out into the country and got us one of those party-line phones. I was always getting yelled at by people I didn't know because I would pick up the phone and listen to the people who were talking.
Its amazing how things have changed in my short life - what will our kids experience?