It all started with a dream I had a couple of weeks ago. Without going into every little detail, let’s just say I was at a social event, got stranded there alone, and lost my cellphone. When I finally found a kind stranger who let me use his cellphone, it went from bad to worse. I only knew two phone numbers: my home phone in which no one was at home, and my deceased father’s number. I was sunk. I wasn’t getting home anytime soon. It was dark outside, and all my money and plastic cards were with my cellphone… somewhere.
I have lots of phone numbers on speed dial in my phone. I can reach everybody; that is, if I have my phone. Yes, this dream woke me up. It all seemed so real and has stayed with me, because without much of a stretch it could become real. I tried to shake it off, but then I got one of those emails they start sending folks when they hit a certain age, where you’re encouraged to play these online brain-builder games. It made me think of my lost-cellphone dream again and that just maybe I should make my own personalized brain game called My Short List of Phone Numbers. This game might be very useful. Who knows? It might even save a Silver Alert on me, not because I’m lost, but because my phone with all my contact numbers is lost.
Is it because I’m older I don’t remember phone numbers or just that I’ve become more dependent on technology that dials the number for me with a push of just one button? I decided to do my own little poll, which I admit right up front is not scientific, but just as reported by family, friends and acquaintances of all ages. There wasn’t any harm to any of the subjects.
When I was a teen, I probably knew greater than 30 numbers. If I didn’t know the number then I looked it up in one of the telephone books or the flip address book that lived next to the phone that was connected to the wall. I even went to work at the phone company after high school and worked in the marketing department where they made guess what? Telephone directories, both the White Pages and Yellow Pages. Do they even still make these? According to an internet search engine they were still alive and well in 2015, at least in the United States. After all, there is still money to be made in directory advertising. In looking at where we keep them at our house, they are still here. There’s a Home Pages Greenfield 2019 and The ‘Real’ Yellow Pages 2018.
I know! What about dialing 411? Yes, I tried it, and it’s still there, except now you get an automated voice system and not a real person. I also might get a charge for dialing it. I’ll know next month when the phone bill arrives. Of course, there’s a toll-free number that is very long that you can call for free. But there’s one catch: I have to learn the number by heart.
There is good news, though! In looking at the results of my mini-poll of about 50 participants, the numbers known by heart average five. Five numbers they know they can call when in need. There were some people who knew more, but they also stated they were mostly work numbers. If you work somewhere that is open 24/7 you’re in luck. Otherwise, you might have to wait until they open in the morning if you need help with a ride home. Another finding: Younger people didn’t retain more numbers than older people.
So in conclusion, it appears that we are all pretty dependent on the technology of our phones with speed dial for our contacts. It looks like I might have company in trying to find a ride home, unless I learn at least two to three more phone numbers by heart… and then hope they don’t get a new number.
