Calls are the best. Second only to in person conversations. When my dad died 2 years ago, I called my sister in Maine. No answer. Left a message to call me immediately. Called my brother-in-law. No answer. Texted BIL to have my sister call me ASAP. My phone rang a few minutes later. I refused to send a text to my sister to tell her our father died. I wouldn’t want to get bad news that way, & I sure wasn’t going to do that to her. Dad had been ill for over a year, so we knew this was coming. But conveying the news of your parent’s death must be done as gracefully as possible. Text messages are graceless.
I’ve learned to appreciate texting but I way prefer a phone call. I used to talk to my mom every time I was in the car and we’d just chat about everything, maybe the bird drama happening at her bird feeders, my two kids, or my grumpy weird dad, exercise & dieting (she was a professional dieter). She passed away a year ago and when I’m in the car I just really really want to call and chat with my mom. She would want to know every detail of everything happening. I had the stomach flu yesterday. I really miss my mom, she’d want to know all about it.
I have gotten used to texting (I love it) and I also love a good phone call. I was talking with my daughter, who had the nerve to marry an Aussie and move to fucking Melbourne, on the phone the other day, and I farted. She heard me. And I denied it. That story isn't over yet. She'll be here in two weeks and we are about to have a fart-off. Those are good in person or on the phone, but never by text. I'm just sayin.
I learned how to text on some kind of flip phone. Later on a Blackberry. My younger sister is deaf and she got tired of the tty—there was better technology available. I became a pro at the alphabet-number combos. Years later, I’m grateful to have an easier communication with my sis (she’s in Wisconsin and I’m in Arkansas.) Now we text our Wordles and bitch about it. I talk to most of my friends via text when making our sad little plans that usually don’t pan out. My phone calls are with my mom daily that exhaust me but I must know she didn’t fall or die in the night. Those are in my car on the way to work, and then on my way home. Next is my partner. Always on my way to work. How did you sleep? Bad dreams? Good dreams? Good walk? Did you see the raccoons or the chicken? We hope each has a great day. We text if anything funny or bad happens, knowing that we will talk again at 7pm sharp. Thank you for all you do. You make lives better.
I’ll take texts because a lot of the time it’s easier with kids around and I can write things I can’t always say, but give me a phone call from someone I love with the sound of their voice every time. I loved this. And who exactly lives with someone and breaks up with them over text? Not really asking just, that’s really something.
I use email, text, and Facebook Messenger a lot. I get what you mean about how texting smashes nuance. Email is almost worse. Maybe we think because we can say more, we can get more across. Not emotion, though.
But I reached out again to my favorite law-school professor a couple of weeks ago, and to the rabbi who officiated at my bar mitzvah (in 1978!). I'm a techie, webcam and all. *Nothing* beats video-chatting with someone you care about.
Your writing feels true, Lauren. That's why I subscribe.
The summer before my senior year, I went to a pre-college program at Southwest Missouri State. Then we moved back to California. My mom would get the phone bill and just lose her mind!
Somewhere in the way back times a woman communications professor told the class:
"70% of communication is non-verbal."
While paying homage to those who prefer to texting, almost exclusively, I recognize my need to get higher than 30% when I text. Last year I bought an Apple Magic Keyboard with trackpad. Now I text from that keyboard attached so slimmingly to my iPad.
Even if I'm sent contractions without apostrophes and incomplete sentences I try hard to respond with full sentences and language as colorful and as connecting as I'm able.
I like texting for sharing photos, links, etc. And I like texting for the ability to take a moment and let someone know you are thinking about them. I don't think texting should replace phone calls; it should supplement them. My girlfriend's texts make me smile and give me butterflies, but HEARING HER VOICE is a million times better.
I think we're close to the same age. I got my first cell phone in 2001 or 2002. It was one of those old indestructible Nokias that became my alarm clock after it stopped working as a phone. I finally REALLY died a couple of years ago.
Calls are the best. Second only to in person conversations. When my dad died 2 years ago, I called my sister in Maine. No answer. Left a message to call me immediately. Called my brother-in-law. No answer. Texted BIL to have my sister call me ASAP. My phone rang a few minutes later. I refused to send a text to my sister to tell her our father died. I wouldn’t want to get bad news that way, & I sure wasn’t going to do that to her. Dad had been ill for over a year, so we knew this was coming. But conveying the news of your parent’s death must be done as gracefully as possible. Text messages are graceless.
I’ve learned to appreciate texting but I way prefer a phone call. I used to talk to my mom every time I was in the car and we’d just chat about everything, maybe the bird drama happening at her bird feeders, my two kids, or my grumpy weird dad, exercise & dieting (she was a professional dieter). She passed away a year ago and when I’m in the car I just really really want to call and chat with my mom. She would want to know every detail of everything happening. I had the stomach flu yesterday. I really miss my mom, she’d want to know all about it.
I have gotten used to texting (I love it) and I also love a good phone call. I was talking with my daughter, who had the nerve to marry an Aussie and move to fucking Melbourne, on the phone the other day, and I farted. She heard me. And I denied it. That story isn't over yet. She'll be here in two weeks and we are about to have a fart-off. Those are good in person or on the phone, but never by text. I'm just sayin.
I learned how to text on some kind of flip phone. Later on a Blackberry. My younger sister is deaf and she got tired of the tty—there was better technology available. I became a pro at the alphabet-number combos. Years later, I’m grateful to have an easier communication with my sis (she’s in Wisconsin and I’m in Arkansas.) Now we text our Wordles and bitch about it. I talk to most of my friends via text when making our sad little plans that usually don’t pan out. My phone calls are with my mom daily that exhaust me but I must know she didn’t fall or die in the night. Those are in my car on the way to work, and then on my way home. Next is my partner. Always on my way to work. How did you sleep? Bad dreams? Good dreams? Good walk? Did you see the raccoons or the chicken? We hope each has a great day. We text if anything funny or bad happens, knowing that we will talk again at 7pm sharp. Thank you for all you do. You make lives better.
💜💜💜. I love getting calls. My "work husband" called me after 2 silent years and we talked for 3 hours laughing and catching up. Nothing is better.
What an ending!!!
I’ll take texts because a lot of the time it’s easier with kids around and I can write things I can’t always say, but give me a phone call from someone I love with the sound of their voice every time. I loved this. And who exactly lives with someone and breaks up with them over text? Not really asking just, that’s really something.
I use email, text, and Facebook Messenger a lot. I get what you mean about how texting smashes nuance. Email is almost worse. Maybe we think because we can say more, we can get more across. Not emotion, though.
But I reached out again to my favorite law-school professor a couple of weeks ago, and to the rabbi who officiated at my bar mitzvah (in 1978!). I'm a techie, webcam and all. *Nothing* beats video-chatting with someone you care about.
Your writing feels true, Lauren. That's why I subscribe.
And Tom made me cry, damn it.
The summer before my senior year, I went to a pre-college program at Southwest Missouri State. Then we moved back to California. My mom would get the phone bill and just lose her mind!
Somewhere in the way back times a woman communications professor told the class:
"70% of communication is non-verbal."
While paying homage to those who prefer to texting, almost exclusively, I recognize my need to get higher than 30% when I text. Last year I bought an Apple Magic Keyboard with trackpad. Now I text from that keyboard attached so slimmingly to my iPad.
Even if I'm sent contractions without apostrophes and incomplete sentences I try hard to respond with full sentences and language as colorful and as connecting as I'm able.
I like texting for sharing photos, links, etc. And I like texting for the ability to take a moment and let someone know you are thinking about them. I don't think texting should replace phone calls; it should supplement them. My girlfriend's texts make me smile and give me butterflies, but HEARING HER VOICE is a million times better.
I think we're close to the same age. I got my first cell phone in 2001 or 2002. It was one of those old indestructible Nokias that became my alarm clock after it stopped working as a phone. I finally REALLY died a couple of years ago.