Lately I have caught a lot of grief over my cell phone and its simplicity.  The poor thing only makes calls and texts.  It use to have picture taking abilities but that doesn’t work anymore.  The phone I have is a flip phone and sometimes the screen will not work. 

I have tried the fancy phones out. I had a Blackberry for about a week. However, once it was all linked up and ready to go, it buzzed and/or rang all the time. New email, internet alert, and texts. I found myself out at restaurants with beautiful guests yet all I could do was check the internet for scores, stocks, and more emails.  I began to feel vibrations or anticipate "alerts" even when I did not have the phone in my pocket.

I love technology and all the new Web 2.0 social applications, ie Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I think if Verizon had the IPhone, I would have one of those–for at least a week. I realize some people truly are more efficient and can utilize these fancy phones to be a real advantage in a professional setting.  Considering I sit at a desk the majority of the day, I have everything I need in front of me.

What I realized was that like television, video games, or computers, I would allow this small technological device to take my attention away from exciting adventures, interesting people, and beautiful places. The wonders of technology at your fingertips will have to wait a little longer to replace the joy of having a good friend, loving family member, or significant other right nearby on a cool, fall day while the leaves change with the season.

I know you can find a picture of what that may look like or research why the leaves change color on your fancy phone. Can you smell the aging leaf? Hear the wind shifting through the trees? Or touch the leaves and feel their leathery exterior prior to becoming brittle and frail? Me either. I am stuck at work doing things I could probably do out and about on that fancy phone.