Pay Phones

Yes, I know the title of this post is strange but so is the topic. I realized today how dependent we have become on cell phones. I left the house to go to a hair cut appointment only to discover that I couldn't find the place. I needed to call the place or call my mother to get better directions; however, I didn't have a cell phone (my one from Korea doesn't work in America and my one from America no longer has a plan b/c I have been in Korea for the last year).

This left me needing to find a pay phone. If you haven't looked for a pay phone recently, try it. It's not as easy as it used to be. Strip mall, no pay phone. Department store, no pay phone. Finally I arrived at a gas station that did have a pay phone. Apparently, pay phones are the one type of phone that does not require an area code. When I put in 1-910 the automated voice told me not to dial a 1 or 0 or an area code if calling a local number. If the phone knows that I'm dialing a 1 and the area code, shouldn't it also be able to just accept it? (Alas, this may be why I have problems with electronics, b/c I question them).

This story has a happy ending. I was able to reach my mother and hey, if I ever need to use a phone phone again, I know where one is and how to use it.

Good luck to all you non-cell phone users; you'll need it!