27 December 2007

Scary presents

What happens when an 80-something gets a cell phone for Christmas:

My phone rings but I can't get to it in time. No message. Caller ID indicates it's Mom on her new prepaid cell phone.

I call her right back.

*Ring ring* *Ring Ring* *Ring Ring*

Mom: Hello?
Sue: Hello.
Silence. She hangs up.

I call right back. No answer. The phone tells me voice mail is not yet set up.

I call to her landline. It's busy. She calls me.

Mom:
Did you call? I couldn't hear anything.
Sue: Yes, I called twice.
Mom: It was over there ringing and ringing.
Sue: Is it ringing now?
Mom: No.
Sue: Good. I will call you right back on the cell phone. Answer it, okay?



*Ring ring* *Ring Ring* *Ring Ring*

Sue: Hello
Mom: Hello?
Sue: Hi Mom.
Mom: Hello? Who is this?
Sue: It's me, mom. Sue.
Mom: Susie? Is that you? I can't hear you.
Sue, changing position: Can you hear me now?
Mom: Oh, I can hear you now. I guess I don't need to press it to my ear so hard. Why did you call me the first time? What did you want?
Sue: I was returning your call.
Mom: I didn't call you.
Sue: Right. I will see you tomorrow, ok?

1 minute later

*Ring ring* *Ring Ring* *Ring Ring*

Sue: Hello
Mom: Hello?
Sue: Hi Mom
Mom: Who IS this? Susie?
Sue: Yeah, Mom. It's Sue, again.
Mom: I was trying to call PK. I don't know what happened.
Sue: I don't know either. I will see you tomorrow, ok?
Mom: Ok.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is hilarious! It reminds me of my grandmother who says, "OH! who are you?!" every time she sees me.

SDM

Mrs. G. said...

Perfect. Sometimes, in the wee hours of the morning, my 82-year-old MIL will accidentally bump her cell phone and it will dial our number. I'll scream HELLO for a full minute, all the while listening to her putter around the kitchen, the Singing Nun blaring in the background.

Average Jane said...

My dad accidentally auto-dials me with his cell phone every now and then. I'll hear him talking in the background and I can tell his phone is probably still in his pocket.

Anonymous said...

Ha! This is very reminiscent of how my parents act when they get another call on the call waiting...which they've had for damn near 15 years now.

claire said...

my mother is quite a bit younger than 80 and yet, still does not understand how her voicemail works. it's really kind of unnerving.
too funny.

ByJane said...

Lots of luck! My mother got a cell phone when she was in her early 80s--oy!

meno said...

Oh so true. laughing too hard to say more,

QT said...

This was exactly the laugh I needed this morning!

Anonymous said...

If it makes you feel any better, my mother is the same way and she's not quite 60. She doesn't understand the buttons, the voice mail. I've had to explain all that a million times. My dad tries to help her, but she doesn't think he knows what he's doing. It's kind of funny.

Your mom sounds like a card. Funny post, Suebob. I'm still chuckling.

Bamboo Lemur Boys Are Mean To Their Girls said...

LOL.

Suzanne said...

That's so cute!

Anonymous said...

My mom is only 58, but she has a hell of a time with her cell phone. She says that she's allergic to technology, but she does just fine with the computer.

This was a great post.

the mystic said...

Well I would laugh out loud at your mother, but I've had a cell phone for almost a year now and I don't know how to take pictures with it, but my 6 year old got hold of it for about 15 seconds and was shouting, "SMILE MAMA!" Also, my 22 year old cousin just finally set up my voicemail for me on Christmas.

That I ever figured out how to write a blog should surely be considered the eighth wonder of the world.

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