Trina Machacek: Text or call?

It might be that most of the people I interact with are of my generation and the younger ones know me fairly well. When they want to tell me things, they need to write it all out in texts, I don’t do alphabet hieroglyphics. I don’t even do “lol.” I write HAHA.

Apparently, I also am out of step because I like my emoji lineup. There are some really cute ones out there and as long as I don’t have to pay to use them, I will continue to pop one or two – or as many as I want – into my communications.

I laugh at the commercials that have the mature guy, who I know is younger than I am. This man is trying to get across to young people who have become their parents in the communication world, how to act their age and become one with the electronic world. I admit I will never become one with the electronic world.

I am the person in my contacts list of contacts that shoots a text that could be a book. I am the one that hardly ever re-reads my text to check for auto correct so often things in my book length texts need another text to explain the first text. And the second text usually has more information because I had more to say. And a laughing emoji or two.

It’s probably a good thing that in today’s world of texting most phone plans are unlimited in texts and what’s the word? Talk. Oh, I am so lucky to have unlimited talk and text. And internet. Add unlimited internet to the limitlessness of communications. But! Yes, a talking, texting and googling “but.” Sometimes though, I wish my phone was still connected to the wall.

Where I could leave it at home when I want to without guilt. Those days are forever gone. I need to take my own advice that I so freely offer to others. That is to keep moving forward. Forward is an amazing motion. Even in the electronic world. See I have what I call my “Old lady phone.” Some black handheld thing that does all I need it to do but doesn’t have some of the cool things I see on phones the young’uns have. HAHA.

Not long ago my friend and I were texting. Back and forth. Wait. Text. Read. Answer text. Wait a second text comes in while I’m fumbling with the tiny keyboard. Well, if I answer that text how can I go back and answer the text before this second text? So, I hold down the magical delete button until that answer disappears, so I can answer the most recent one.

Oops another one shows up. She is fast. I am not. This goes on for a while. To me a while can be any length of time until I want to throw my phone as far as I can. Which isn’t very far because for some reason in recent years I have begun to throw like my arm is not attached to my shoulder and things go in directions that I am not even looking toward. Ah but that is for another day’s discussion. Back to texting.

I think it is safe to say that my fingers are still attached to my hands and most of the time my brain and my hands work in sync. I actually like the texting option. Believe it or not sometimes even I am too pooped to talk.

Or I have three things I am trying to get done with three people at the same time. That is where and when this texting thingy is my friend. It’s like a party line for your fingers. Except a bit more private than what a party line was. Ah, but that too is for yet another day’s discussion. And what a discussion it will be. Back to texting.

I am a firm believer in not texting while you are mad, or tired, or upset. I am even a firmer believer in the saying, “Say it forget it. Write it regret it.” Oh, that should be printed on every phone everywhere. Sure, it’s nice to have a record of some conversations. Is it really necessary to keep a text forever about finding a fly in your spaghetti?

I say just move on and use that “are you sure you want to delete this information” button. Yes, go ahead and delete. So, to sum up. I was texting back and forth and getting lost in the conversation with my friend when I realized, I can just call her. So, I did. The end! HAHA. Emoji, emoji.

Trina Machacek lives in Diamond Valley north of Eureka. See and buy her books on her website www.theeurekacountystar.com or email her to buy signed copies at itybytrina@yahoo.com.