Can
You Hear Me Now?
Jackie
K. Cooper
A
few days ago my cell phone died on me. I mean it went to sleep
and never woke up - no pulse, no dial tone, no nothing. This morning
I took it to the place where I bought it and the lady confirmed
my diagnosis. As she said, "This phone is D-E-D, dead!"
She
said she thought some liquid had gotten into it. She showed me
how the battery looked a little wet and also said the points of
contact were corroded. She seemed confused as to how that happened.
I told her my son had used my phone and that is probably when
whatever happened, happened. This was a lie. Neither of my sons
had been anywhere near my phone. I just didn't want to tell her
what had really happened.
On
Saturday night I was supposed to have an interview with Deborah
Roberts, one of the reporters on "20/20." Deborah is
from Perry, Georgia where I live, and I had been trying to get
the interview set up for ages. We had finally settled on Saturday
afternoon.
I
had told her I had a meeting in Atlanta that day but should be
back in Perry by four in the afternoon. The problem was that on
the way home the Department of Transportation had four out of
five lanes on I-75 South blocked for roadwork. It took me forever
to get home. So I was late calling Deborah and I was late getting
the place set up for where we would meet.
After
I finally reached her we agreed to meet at a local restaurant
for dinner and the interview. I was already starving but I knew
it would be awhile before we ate. So I poured myself a glass of
tomato juice and grabbed some peanut butter and cheese crackers
to eat on the way to the restaurant. This is my very favorite
snack.
In
the car I sat the glass of tomato juice in the holder and grabbed
my cell phone to make a quick call to a friend of mine about some
information I needed. Somehow the phone slipped out of my hand
and landed in the glass of tomato juice. I mean, how could that
happen! It was like it was drawn like a magnet to the spot where
the juice was.
I
quickly fished it out and tried to wipe it clean. Tomato Juice
was everywhere. It was a mess. And when I tried to turn the phone
back on - nothing happened! I could just see that tomato acid
eating up the inside of my phone.
My
cell phone is one of my prized possessions. I love the convenience
of it and the accessibility it gives me. My wife and I have one
of those plans where we can call all over the country and talk
and talk and talk. She talks to her sister every day and I talk
with my brother at least every other day. We won't even go into
how often we talk with the kids and grandkids. So as you can see
I am lost when my cell phone doesn't work.
So
this morning I got a new phone, and luckily they now let you keep
the old number you had. I won't miss any calls, but I will have
to reset my directory.
So
now I feel better. I have confessed my sins. I shouldn't have
blamed my sons, but I at least didn't say which one had done it.
I protected them that little bit. And I have learned a lesson.
Cell phones and tomato juice - two of my favorite things - don't
mix!
***
Jackie
K. Cooper was born in South Carolina and now lives in Georgia.
He is familiar to people living in the middle Georgia area as
the "entertainment man" since his entertainment reviews
run in newspapers and are shown on television there. His short
stories have been used as commentary on Georgia Public Radio.
He also keeps active appearing as an after dinner speaker for
various events.
Cooper
has lived an exceptionally interesting life and portions of it
are contained in his first book Journey of a Gentle Southern
Man. The journey continued in Chances and Choices.
Jackie's
first two books, Journey of a Gentle Southern Man
and Chances and Choices, were reprinted and published
by Mercer University Press in July 2004. His third book Halfway
Home was published by Mercer University Press in October
2004.
Cooper
is currently at work on his fourth book, The Book Binder,
which will be published in the fall of 2006.
Visit
his website, or email
Jackie.
©
Jackie K. Cooper