A Phone-ology Narrative?

So in 625, we're writing a Technology Narrative--an interesting concept, really. I normally think of technology as strictly relating to computers, but I'm realizing that's far too narrow a designation. As it happens, two of my earliest technology memories pertain to phones.

Abby was my first best friend . . . we met when I was six and she was five. And even at a young age, I loved to talk to her on the phone. Yes, the phone had one of those spirally cords, and yes, I always walked around the kitchen while I talked, twisting the cord and then untangling it during our long conversations. The funny thing is, when we spent time together, we didn't like each other much; I was too bossy and she was too whiny. But we had great conversations over the phone. (Abby and I have kept in touch, by the way, even though it was thirteen years ago that I moved away from her. In fact, she flew out to Missouri to come to my wedding.)

Anyway, one day--not sure whether I persuaded her to or she decided this of her own will--she put her older brother Clay on the phone. Clay, who was probably ten at the time, much older than my immature seven, was the first boy I ever had a crush on. He was cute, I thought, and nice . . . and after all, he was my best friend's brother. Isn't it natural to want to marry your BFF's brother so you will always be related to her? I still remember that conversation with Clay: it was a little awkward, I think, but he told me goofy jokes that I still remember, like "Who was the shortest person in the Bible? Bildad the Shuhite" and a funny story about his friend's parrot walking around the house like a little old man. It was a great conversation. But obviously I no longer have a crush on him.

I still have Abby's number memorized.


Another memorable phone conversation took place when I was seven, on the same beige phone in the same kitchen. I woke up early that morning to find my grandma in the kitchen making us pancakes.

"Hi Gigi! Uh, where's my mom?"

"She's in the hospital . . . your little baby brother or sister is coming this morning!"

Anxiously awaiting our new sibling, Christine, John, and I could hardly eat our breakfast that morning. We were waiting for the phone call.

Just after 9:00am, the phone rang, and Gigi picked it up. We could hear the excitement in her voice, but I wanted to talk to my parents myself, and I convinced her to let me have the phone.

"Hi!" I said.

"Hey, Hannah," my dad said. "Guess what . . . You have a new baby sister!"

"A sister!" I exclaimed. In the living room, I heard Christine clapping her hands in joy as well as John's disappointed voice: "No, I wanted a boy!"

My dad told me that she was born at 8:44 that morning, that they were all happy and healthy and the baby hadn't even cried yet. Just then, I heard a loud wail in the background, Ally's voice saying hi to me for the first time--over the phone.