Living in the Past Now

Brrringg.

Grampa picked up the receiver to answer the phone. “Hello.”

“Hi Grampa. I tried to text you, and it wouldn’t go through.”

“I have a land line. It can’t take texts… Are you… Kurt? The sound is staticky like.”

“Yes. This is Kurt. Your grandson. My cell phone doesn’t always get good reception. Didn’t your phone tell you who was calling?” 

“No. My phone doesn’t show that.”

“My phone does,” said Kurt. “It puts up the name. I about couldn’t find your phone number. I had to ask Mom. She told me to look it up in the phone book. I couldn’t believe it. It was there. Who uses that anymore?”

“I do.”

“You haven’t replaced the landline with a cell phone? Everyone I know has. I wouldn’t find any of their numbers in the phone book. What good is it?”

“I can still find local businesses,” said Grampa.

“I guess… I want to tell you about my vacation to Hawaii. Gabriella, you know her. She’s my wife. Have you seen Alyssa and Andres since they were in grade school? I have pictures of them in the ocean. Give me your email address so I can send you the pics.”

“I don’t have one. Just send me the pictures through the mail.”

Kurt went silent for a moment. “Snail mail? Everyone has an email address. How do you receive invoices and receipts?”

“I buy in person. I like knowing the people I do business with,” said Grampa.

“Really?” Kurt said, “I guess that would be a good thing.”

“I buy groceries from the grocery store here in town. What I can’t buy, I raise in my garden. I pay utilities and phone bills in person. Businesses like that I pay cash.”

“My debit and credit card are faster than trying to pull out the correct change. Ordering on the phone is so easy. Scan a QR code and you’re done. I order online a lot. Movies. Music. Clothes. You should try it sometime,” said Kurt. 

“Have you ever been disappointed with what you bought?” asked Grampa. “I like to see what I’m purchasing.”

“Well. Yeah. I bought some headphones online. They didn’t have as good sound quality as what they claimed… If you don’t have an email address, does that mean you don’t have a smart phone?”

“That’s right. Nor a computer. Been getting along fine without it.”

“But--.”

“I’m too dumb for a smart phone. I like my rotary phone.”

“You mean where you stick your finger in a hole and turn it in a circle?” asked Kurt.

“Yup. Saves a lot of menu questions. Takes me directly to a real person.”

“If you say so…Got to admit that would be nice. How am I supposed to get my pictures to you?”

“Like I said. Through the mail. My sister sent me the last picture. It was your cousin throwing the winning point in the state basketball championship tournament at the capital.”

“Woww! I would have had to Face Time my daughter if she did that and I couldn’t be there,” said Kurt.

“Face Time?” asked Grampa.

“It’s a phone call where you can see the other person.”

“Ummm. I wouldn’t like that. My sister is always complaining how dirty I keep things. Or she would fuss that I was still in my sweats.”

“Well. Make a time to call. Just wash dishes and change out of your pajamas.”

“I guess.”

“I love seeing and hearing my children when they are away,” said Kurt. I’ll send you videos. You can watch them on your phone.”

“No, I can’t. You forgot. I have a land line,” said Grampa.

“Oh yeah… My cell phone is great for waiting. I play games like Miner, Gas Station, and puzzles. Don’t you get bored waiting?” asked Kurt.

“Usually there are other people around when I’m waiting. I make friends with them.” He sighed. “It’s getting harder. People want to be on their cell phones rather than talk,” said Grampa.

You’re not keeping up with the times, are you? Don’t you get lonely?”

“Sometimes. I miss my wife, Margaret. I’ve wondered what she would have thought of these new-fangled gadgets. If I get bored, I read her diary. They bring back good memories.”

“But,” said Kurt, “she would’ve had such an easier time writing a diary with a word processor. Hit a key rather than erase a letter. Sentences wrap around; no carriage return.”

“But then I’d miss the memories from seeing her handwriting,” said Grampa.

“You have memories from handwriting?!” said Kurt.

“Yes. When I went through the checks at the end of the month, I’d see her handwriting and think about what she bought. A lot of times it was something I had asked her to get.”

“Have you thought about trying a smart phone?” 

“I did try one once,” said Grampa. “The keys were small. Either they wouldn’t go at all. Or I’d hit it too many times. I didn’t like the contract, the cost, and recharging the battery. My landline is plugged in all the time. Doesn’t need recharging. I got rid of that little gadget. And the email address. Especially the email address. Lots of junk email.

“I hear there’s a lot of scams with smart phones. Have you ever been scammed?” asked Grampa.

“Well. Yes. I hate to admit it. I thought I received an invoice email from a company I do business with. Turned out someone hijacked my company’s logo to make an invoice. I paid it. But fortunately, I caught it through the credit card company. It never went through, and I got a new credit card.

“Don’t you get telemarketers calling you?” asked Kurt.

“Yes. I tell them, ‘I am here visiting with a policeman about how I was scammed.’ They hang up real quick.”

“You’re living in another decade, aren’t you?” asked Kurt.

“Yes. And I love it. Good people with good attitudes. Good memories. And no ads in my story books.”

“I’ve thought about writing. You make me want to delve into the whole different perspective that people your age have. Can I come over and learn more what it was like years ago?” asked Kurt.

“Sure. I’ll let you read Margaret’s diary. If you can read cursive.”