Does anyone remember party lines? I'm talking about telephone party lines.
The notion of something so communal leaves Y-Chromo & X-Chromo aghast. They insist they are deprived because they don't have cell phones. And I wonder, "What would these spoiled teenagers do if they were on a party line?"
When I was very young, my parents did not have a telephone. When they finally had one installed, it was black, had a dial, and was hardwired to the kitchen wall. The handset was connected with a 6-foot spiral cord. And we were on an eight-party line. Eight households shared one telephone line. When the phone rang one long ring, it was for us. Mr. & Mrs. Shute were two short rings. I'm not sure how the other six parties managed.
Eventually, my parents moved up in the world and to a four-party line. Except one of the parties talked on the phone all day long, so no one else could use the phone. I remember my parents complaining to the phone company. The cost of a private line was prohibitive. My early teen years were spent listening to the clicks of the other parties either trying to get me off the phone or eavesdropping. Eventually, my parents went for a private line. I can't imagine how else I could have had those long, soulful conversations with my boyfriend.
When I moved out on my own, I opted for something new: a yellow telephone and touch tone. Yes, we had to pay extra for touch tone. Eventually, I bought my own phones, hooked up my own extensions, touch tone became the standard, etc., but I still never made long distance calls. Long distance calls were an unnecessary expense.
When I married TV Stevie, I was shocked that he called his mother long distance IN STATE (more expensive!) every week. I still hesitate before picking up the phone to call someone long distance. It's still new to me.
Isn't it amazing how technology has changed things? We have cordless phones in our house; long-distance calling is unlimited as part of our telephone and Internet package; we have speaker phones. Y-Chromo does his AP English homework on weekly conference calls -- via speaker phone -- with his friends. Cell phones are a way of life.
Except for Y-Chromo and X-Chromo.
They complain, and I remember the party line.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
A ringtone only they can hear? Sounds like a dog whistle!
Miz Molly!
I love the new design. And thanks for adding me to your links. I need to figure out how to do that. I've tried but it doesn't work. I'm going to get one of my grad students to show me.
Anyway, love the post about the phones. While I don't remember party line, I do remember when long distance phone calls were outrageous. And they cost even more when they were in the same state. I'm so glad we have one price billing now. Because, even though I don't have nearly as much time as I would like, I love talking on the phone with family and friends.
Oh and I'm still laughing at the kiddies feeling deprived because they don't have cell phones. I can relate. It wasn't the lack of a cell phone that slayed me as a teen. No, it was the lack of my own private teen-phone line. All my friends--well one friend, Val Kelley--had their own phone in their rooms with their own number. And I wanted one too with a pretty pink phone. I'm sure this lack of a teen-line ruined my life. *hand on forehead with dramatic sigh and pause*
Gwyneth
Post a Comment