A Message

"Hi Ldbug, this is Mom. We're in Nevada. You're Dad called earlier and left a message on your phone but we couldn't hear it so I'm not sure if it worked. I'll call you from Grandma's when we get there tomorrow evening. Ok, love you, bye.

(background) Well, I just don't know how to turn it off.

'hit that button'

Which button?

'that one, the red one'

There isn't a red one.

'yes there is, let me'

(some shuffling) 'did that do it?'

I don't know, the light's still on. Here let me.

'wait..'

Is it off?

'well if you'd just wait'

Why are the buttons so small.

(sigh) 'I don't know..'" END OF MESSAGES

My parents got a cell phone since they're traveling for a few weeks. I listened to this little diddy the other night. My Mom did manage to call me from the cell at another point and a good portion of the conversation sounded a little like this "Can you hear me?" "Yes, Mom I can hear you." "Because I'm just talking into air, talking into air.."

It's good they've made the first move toward cell phone ownership, but I think they need a little help. For instance, 'couldn't hear the message'? Since when do you actually hear the message you leave on someone else's phone? And then they seem to have difficulty pressing 'end.' Maybe they should've gotten a larger phone, one of those '80s style so they feel like the device is more substantial.

Oh well, I'm sure by the end of the trip they'll have a slightly less tenuous grasp on the technology.