I Can Not Take Your Call, and I Am OK With That

Our lives have all changed tremendously since the invention, then popularization of the cell phone. We all know how convenient it is to have a cell phone. What if your car breaks down? Grab your cell phone. Need one more thing at the grocery store? Pick up your phone, call your honey and add to that grocery list. Hate being alone while shopping? Call your favorite person to chat. You get the idea.

Our lives have also changed tremendously since the invention, then popularization of Caller ID. Wow! I mean talk about amazing inventions. I need not say more.

What some people fail to realize is that most cell phones now have Caller ID! I know, it seems crazy right? I am telling you the truth, I would not lie to you!

Picture this: It is the end of a very long day, let's call it Monday. The sun is still hot outside despite it preparing to set within the next 2 hours. I am running to the grocery store in my high heels, right after work, because I realize I need to grab one more thing before I go home and relax from my long obnoxious day. (Please note, I LOVE my high heels, but I HATE them after work when I've been wearing them for 8 or 9 freakin' hours!) Standing in line at the checkout, there is at least 569 people in front of me and another 365 behind. Someones cell phone starts ringing above the beep of the grocery scanner. RING! RING! Everyone in line except the person whose phone it is is thinking to themselves, "if that person doesn't shut that cell phone up I swear I am going to rip it off their "sexy belt holster" and drop it on the floor conveniently under my 4 inch heel and jump!" We find the culprit with the ringing phone. EVERYONE is staring. This popular person just happens to have all their hands full, and its also the same person with the 2 kids in the cart that are screaming and already eating the groceries that they have yet to buy. So, popular person picks up their phone, FINALLY, dropping a bag of chips and the half drunk bottle of punch that their kid is slobbering on--- just to pick up the phone. "Uh... Hi, blah blah blah, and OMG, and (stops to talk to the ravenous screaming kids in the cart, no billy boy! mommy said no) back to blah blah blah jabber jabber." K is everyone annoyed at this person? I think so! I can't be the only one watching this mess wishing it would just go away so I didn't have to witness it. It is OK to see who is calling, realize that you are in a situation that does not call for catching up with an old pal, put your phone on silent, and call them back when you get home and have fed your ravenous, tired children. What did you do before cell phones??? I know you still left your house, in the chance that you might miss a call. Heard of Voicemail?

Scene 2: (just so I know you get the picture)

I am at work, (disclaimer: this is purely fiction. Any people, places or ideas dead or alive that resemble this story is strictly accident) two co-workers are having an important conversation about work. Words like bank, stocks, and boss are being thrown around. All of the sudden co-worker #1's cell phone rings. It is ringing from his office 3 doors down. He bolts out of co-worker #2's office-- throws caution and Safety in the Workplace rules to the wind-- and he sprints to his office. He knocks down Blind Old Lady, and 2 executive assistants, paper flies everywhere. A helpless file clerk gets hurdled over as though she is accessory to the Track and Field Team. Phone is still ringing! RING! RING! RRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNG!
Co-worker #1 finally gets to his office, picks up the phone and announces to Caller, "I'm sorry, I can't take your call right now I am in a meeting."
WHAT?????????? No you are most certainly not! You practically killed yourself and injured 3 others just to run to that phone that was helplessly ringing to tell Caller that you can't take the call? Uh! I think you just did you idiot! Now that Old Lady and Executive Assistant are being carried out on a stretcher I think it would be OK for you to take that call you ASS. Would it be so bad if you just let it ring and check your missed calls list later? Might be a voicemail waiting for you.

All I am trying to say is, people, get a grip! There will be time later to call back, and if it was important, they'll leave a message, possibly an URGENT one! Be considerate of those around you and chill. Phone ringing doesn't mean end of world. It didn't 40 years ago and it doesn't today.