Little Things I Miss

Remember how heavy these old black phones were?    

Remember the 25 foot long, thick cords that connected that phone to the telephone stand? Ours was on a shelf below the linen closet cupboards in the hallway to the bedrooms. The 25 foot cord reached just about everywhere in the house.  It barely fit under my bedroom door when I wanted to have a private conversation with a girlfriend or boyfriend.

I don't miss the heaviness of the phone or the cord, but I do miss being able to tuck the big receiver under my chin like I did years ago so that my hands were free to do other stuff like homework or feed the baby or fold the clothes. The phones we have now have a flash button on the back that is easily and mistakenly engaged.  One little miscalculation on holding the phone and the conversation is temporarily gone.

I miss the sound of the dial clicking it's way around when making a call. It sounded like you were actually doing something to connect to that call.

I miss the excitement or suspense of wondering who the call is from.  Actually our talking phone makes so many verbal "mistakes" that we often do not know who is on the other end until we pick up the receiver.  Of course, I could look at the digitally printed caller ID, but that would spoil the surprise.

Summers, while I was in high school, I worked as an information operator.  We sat in little half round glass cubicles.  We each had three huge phone books, white pages only.  We had a headset on and the calls were fed to us automatically.  We would ask the pertinent questions and swivel to the correct book and quickly (we were trained to be quick) look up the number.  Sometimes it would be someone we knew, but we were not allowed to acknowledge that, although we were encourage to be efficient, yet friendly with everyone.  We had information for a certain nearby area and no more.  We had a strict dress code.  No slacks, levis, capris or shorts.  Skirts or dresses only were allowed, button up the front blouses and nylons and leather shoes.  No one saw us, so it was a silly code. I miss friendly local information operators who could tell what the name of the restaurant that you couldn't remember. 

It is nice to have cell phones and cordless phones, but it was almost better to be unreachable if you were out having fun rather than everyone being able to reach us 24/7. Few things are so important that 24 hour access is necessary.  

Privacy.  One of the little things I miss.

 

I have added some wonderful recycled silk sari ribbon yarn to my Etsy shop.  It is 130 ft long and so colorful.  Each bundle is a bit different.  We had this ribbon yarn at Stampaway last month and it sold out very quickly.Go have a look.

 

Comments

[Seth]

Thanks for the memories here -- although I bet there are some readers who have no idea what you are talking about - LOL!

[Judi]

Ah, memories. And remember having to schedule long distance calls and keep them oh so short because they cost so much? I miss that sound of the dial, THAT is aging me!

[Rachel Greig]

When I was a kid we had those black phones, but not with the numbers, it just had one ringer (can't remember the name of them now). They were used on a party line. Anyway... we don't have caller ID on our phone so it's always a surprise as to who is calling. :)

[Maureen]

Ah the old phones. When I lived in England my number was 320. That's it. Then as the years went by, I was 'upgraded' to 4320. That seemed quite an affront.

I also miss the phone #s that had names, tho I do recall when they went to numbers only. btw, you are the first person I've ever 'met' who was a phone operator!

[suze]

Hey Gin...I sent U an award...go see it on my blog !

[Trish]

Hi Ginny,
I love all these things as well. I actually have two of the old telephones. My husband was a telephone man for many years, starting out on the "frame" as they say, moving to cable splicer, and finally into the corporate arena. There were many times dinner was interrupted by a call saying someone was out of service, and back then you were required to restore service in a timely manner. Usually within the hour. Now the telephone company will easily, and without any regret, inform you it will take up to two weeks to restore your service. I miss the old days and long for a time machine! I guess we can't make people care. Enjoy your Labor Day.
Trish