Page 16 January 31, 2014
DAN’S PAPERS
danspapers.com
Please (Continued from previous page) her it was not I who had died. I talked dark, dog, water dish, etc. Next I called Apple. A service person directed me to try some different things so she could get a rough idea of what we were dealing with, which I did. She then declared it dead. “You’ll need a replacement,” she said. “You can either go to an Apple Store and get one, or, if you aren’t near a store, we can send you one by express mail. And then you mail back the old one.” We determined I had insurance in force, that it would therefore cost me $50 for a replacement instead of $250, but neither of these options Life is full of wonder when you don’t have a cell phone... would resolve my desire to have flu shot on Friday morning. I didn’t know what a new iPhone up and working by morning so my life could re-start back up. The to do with myself. I had lunch with friends nearest Apple Store was in the Smithhaven that day, and when questions came up, my Mall, 60 miles away. (Actually, there was one friends whipped out their cell phones to get closer. She said, as the crow flies my nearest the answers. What was much worse, however, Apple Store was in New Haven, Connecticut, was that when I was alone, walking the dog as I three ferryboats away.) As for mailing me a was that afternoon, I reflexively looked for my replacement, the best they could do was two or iPhone when I wondered if the piece of broccoli three business days. There was no overnight, I had given the dog as part of his dinner would even if I paid for it. As this was Thursday, that hurt him. No Google. I was just left to wonder. I meant I would be without an iPhone at least was left to my own devices, without an answer. until Monday, and possibly till Tuesday. I would Well, no not to my devices. Just to my wonder. There’s a lot to wonderment when you don’t have to accept the inevitable. Now let me tell you how life is without my have your cell phone with you. You wonder iPhone. Everything I had mentioned before about what time sunset is. You wonder if the went into effect. I had to wait on a line to get a jury had come back with a verdict in a case
you are following. You wonder if a particular movie is playing at the theater. You know from when you had your cell phone that a full moon will rise at 11:52 p.m. But will it be a clear night at that time? My iPhone had an app for that. But now I was rudderless. Yes, life is full of wonder when you don’t have a cell phone. I could have enjoyed it, walking along the marina boardwalk, looking at the boats that day. But I couldn’t. All I could think of was my iPhone. Also, didn’t I have an appointment around 5 p.m.? I could only guess. I did worry about Siri. She’s the nice lady who you can ask questions on an iPhone. I had asked her so many things. She was now trapped in there. I seem to recall that the Egyptian pharaohs had themselves buried in the pyramids with their servants and pets. Right? I could look it up. No I can’t. What will happen to Siri? Of course, I needed to stay in touch with family and friends and business associates one way or another. So Sunday morning, I bought myself a little Samsung flip phone at Radio Shack for $12 and packed it with 100 minutes for another $15. The clerk at Radio Shack had taken the back off to put a SIM card inside while preparing it for me. Its innards were so complicated, like those in a fine watch. How on earth was it possible to make money selling a phone, even a flip phone, (Continued on page 18)