I updated my phonebook last week. Not the one that is stored in my phone. This phonebook is a small pocket-sized book that I bought many years ago to write down all the phone numbers of people I call regularly. I carried this book in my purse so that I would always have those numbers with me in case, for some reason, I was unable to access the numbers stored in my cell phone. Several months ago I bought a new, smaller, purse and when I transferred stuff from the old purse to the new purse I decided the phone book, that I had not used in over 10 years that I had been carrying it, was something I could do without.
A situation that arose last week made me aware of my error in thinking.
Here’s what happened. It was late morning when I ignored an incoming call because I didn’t recognize the phone number. It was over an hour later when I looked at my phone and discovered I had a voice mail. The message was from my daughter (#3). It went something like this – Mom, I’m at the airport waiting for my flight. I’m using the bartender’s phone because mine is not working. Could you try to call my phone. Also, I need you to get ahold of S (her boyfriend) and have him pick me up at the airport. You have my itinerary so can tell him what time and where to pick me up.
I tried calling her phone but my call went straight to voicemail. Then my phone rang. Caller I.D. showed the same unfamiliar number #3 had called from earlier.
When I answered my daughter asked if I had tried to call her phone. She explained that her phone had vibrated but when she answered it there was only dead air. She repeated her request that I contact S and ask him to pick her up when her flight got in since she wouldn’t have her phone to be able to call for an Uber or Lift ride. She was able to give me her flight information but what she couldn’t give me was S’s phone number. She did not have it memorized or written down.
A couple of years ago, when they first started dating, I had requested that she email me his name, address and phone number, as a safety precaution but I had never written it down or stored his number in my phone. I’m sure that info still resides amongst the many emails I have not deleted but tracking it down would take some time and effort. I asked if one of her sisters might have his phone number. She said that one of them might be able message him on Facebook.
When I hung up, I called daughter #2 and explained the situation. She wrote down the flight info and said she would try to reach S via Facebook. She called me back a few minutes later saying that she was able to reach him and gave him the information. I then called #3 back and told her that S would pick her up.
A few phone calls and a flight delay later #3 called me, from S’s phone, to let me know that he had picked her up and they were on their way home. I saved his number in my phone and added it to my (written) phonebook. #3 also agreed that she would make a list of important phone numbers to carry with her. Lesson learned.
Do you carry a list of important phone numbers?
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No, I don’t have all my important numbers written down, but I had a dream last night about trying to call my daughter to ask her for my other daughter’s number, but then realized I didn’t know HER number, either. 🤨 Maybe Someone’s trying to tell me something… Think I’ll follow your example. 👍
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Wow! Definitely a message for you! I can imagine God saying, “Don’t make me tell you again!” LOL!
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I have most numbers memorized luckily. I remember a few months ago when I got a new phone and the number of times people in my family wouldn’t answer because they didn’t recognize it was me calling was hilarious!
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Back in the day when we had to dial a phone number to make a call I had MANY numbers memorized. Having them stored in my phone has made me lazy. I only know my own and my husbands. Getting a new phone number sounds like a big hassle – I switched carries recently but thankfully was able to keep my number.
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I have a small telephone book l keep with all my numbers and passwords by my computer. I have a sheet inside my pc holding the same. But l don’t have details in my old phone and l don’t have a Smartphone.
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Having a backup is smart. Beck in the day when I had to dial phone numbers all the time I had many memorized. Now because they are programmed into my phone I only know mine and my husbands.
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I have a little binder-type phone book for businesses and friends, but it is so outdated and if I want to call someone like the plumber, I Google the number, but I’ll keep the book anyway. I don’t have a smartphone and in the Fall of 2021, in anticipation of the 4G rollout, I needed to get a new flip phone. Got it and never bothered to put any contact info in – no family and I’ve not worked on site since 2009, just work from home. So reluctantly took the time and read the book and put in my boss’ number and a friend I’ve not seen in five years as my ICE number. A few days later that brand-new phone died. I ordered the same phone from Amazon and could not remove the SIM card – I had to go to the AT&T store in the end anyway – the two contact on the SIM card could not be transferred as it is a slightly different model and there was an issue with the SIM card – so now I have to read the manual again how to put in contacts. I don’t even know how to text on the phone – I only text from my computer to a phone, but not phone to phone. I only use it for emergencies.
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I think you are smart not to become reliant on technology. Using it is not necessarily bad but when we forget to have a backup plan that’s a mistake. I didn’t know you could text from a computer to a phone. Shows how much I know. LOL!
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I do it all the time for my boss … for the big phone companies like Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile … I am not sure about AT&T. Would you like the directions? It works very well!
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I don’t think I would use it. I have never used text messaging and all my family knows if they want to talk to me they need to call or use email.
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OK Ruth – if you every change your mind, feel free to ask me and I’ll send you the info okay?
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Thanks Linda!
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My family sometimes teases me about my paper lists and old school ways of doing things. But I will never change, I was never a big fan of technology.
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I am very old school as well. I hate the idea of being reliant on technology and have great respect for those who came before us and survived using their blood, sweat and tears.
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Isn’t that the problem with electronics? I do carry important numbers written down with me, but never thought to suggest the same to my family. Thanks for the idea, Ruth.
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You’re welcome Mitzy. The biggest thing is that we become too dependent on it.
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I have all #’s of mostly everyone important in a book & in my iPhone along with addresses. If nothing else messenger of Facebook works too.
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It’s a good practice but I’m not sure the younger generation realizes the importance. I don’t do FB or messenger but it’s a good thing my daughters and my daughter’s boyfriend do because that’s how # 2 got ahold of him.
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Such a valuable lesson. No, I do not carry it with me. I remember one (at least) number for emergencies. I do have a paper copy of my phone book at home, though.
Back in the day, you came out of the airport and saw a line of cabs. These days it’s all about Uber/Lyft and I am not a fan. You point out one of the reasons in your story.
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I do have my husband’s number memorized but if I couldn’t reach him it would be good to have a 2nd or 3rd person to call. Thankfully my daughters have my number memorized but had she had issues while flying to a job rather than coming home calling me would have been no help. She really needs to include some of her coworkers #s on the list as well. I don’t know much about Uber/Lyft vs cabs but I’m guessing you need to use an ap for them. She did mention if worse had come to worse she could have called a cab and paid with credit card. Is that old fashion?
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Yes, everyone I ask tells me you need an app for Uber/Lyft which is not my style. Yes, calling a cab and paying with something that is not your phone is old-school, but also the way I prefer to do things. I’ve had a hard time hailing a cab at some cities I’ve visited in the recent years… Really makes us all heavily reliable on phones, which is not optimal.
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That is an excellent warning. Thank you.
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You’re welcome, Anne.
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I dated a guy once who encouraged me to memorize his number. I didn’t see the need at the time because it was in my phone, but he said, “What if you don’t have your phone and need help?” It’s good to have a paper list of important numbers. My Mother kept a list on the side of the fridge. 💖
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My daughters all have my number memorized because when they were young they did not have their own phones. They would give friends my number to call them. At least she had one number memorized. 🙂 I’ve known other mothers that kept the list on the fridge or by the (landline) phone.
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I have a dozen (or more) little books that would be perfect for that and you’ve reminded me why it is important to keep such information in a hard copy form, because the internet is not infallible. I suspect a lot of folks will be horribly frightened by the lack of instant results as we’ve grown accustomed to as well! I’m glad it all worked out. Did you find out why your daughter’s phone came up with that odd number and why she couldn’t use it? She is a lucky lass, as I regard odd numbers as suspicious and won’t answer them.
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I really hate to be reliant on technology and like to have an alternative or plan B for everything. The odd number was actually the bartender’s phone that she was calling me from. I didn’t answer it the first time so she had to leave me a voice mail. At least I got the voice mail – that doesn’t always happen. She ended up getting a new phone after she got home.
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Technology certainly can fail but somehow we carry on, going it won’t. I like the way you number your daughters 😃
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I don’t like to be that dependent on technology and was reminded why. It’s the same way my parents numbered their daughters (I’m D.D. #2). LOL!
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