Monday, March 28, 2011

Me, in another life

So, whenever my mother-in-law's children, which after a little breaking in period included me, got off track from whatever life pursuit we were supposed to be following, she would invariably accuse us of "going to the mountains to play a flute."

I often wondered exactly how this would play out and what it would actually look like in real life.

A good many of my questions were cleared up the other day when we passed through the mountains of Western North Carolina. And there I was, complete with my faithful dog lying at my feet, wondering what tune I would play next.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Signs of the times

I can remember a time, not so long ago, when just knowing there was a pay phone ahead gave a comforting feeling. Family, friends and emergencies could all be handled by the cling clang of a few coins.

Having to pay for the call insured against getting too longwinded, and seldom was a waiting line so long it could not be endured within a few short minutes.

My, how times have changed. No more queing for the next empty booth. Now we wait behind the person in the car ahead, hoping he won't be too distracted to drive.

Now nobody sticks his head up into the booth squeezing for that tiny bit of privacy. Everyone's conversation is out in the open, like a community discussion.

And those old pay phone stations? Just like a body with no heart...dead as a door nail.