Archives #3

Thursday, August 25, 2005
BACK TO THE FUTURE ?
We are in the process of attempting to sell a manufactured home we purchased several years ago back to the manufacturer, after which we will be able to proceed to purchase a new home from a local retailer. Yesterday we attempted to call someone in relation to the sale. Our newfangled phone we were talked into purchasing by a phone company salesman upon moving into this area, once again was not working correctly. Out came the trusty old red rotary dial phone. The kids, aged 6 and 8 hadn't seen this phone since they were toddlers so it was quite a novelty to them. As they watched in fascination, Daniel made a couple phone calls then came the waiting for a call back. We sat the red rotary phone on the floor near the desk and, as the kids were watching one of their shows on PBS, we went outside for a few, instructing the kids to let us know if the phone rang. They were happy to help out.
Maybe 15 minutes later we came back inside. As I opened the door and glanced inside I was greeted by a sight that caused me to break out into laughter. There was Lindsay, sitting on the couch, leaning over the arm intently gazing at the old red phone. A couple feet away was Nathan, on his hands and knees on the floor. He too was peering expectantly at the phone saying, over and over again, "Ring Phone! Ring! Ring!.. Ring Phone!.." A few minutes later both children were absolutely amazed when this strange object actually cut loose with a loud, clear ring! "What was that?" And when Daddy answered and started talking, "It works!"
There are some nice features about the old rotary phones. The current from the phone line itself is plenty to make it function so, if the power goes out you can still make those emergency calls. Once you have the phone plugged into the line you don't have to waste precious time looking it over, pushing various buttons with strange markings attempting to figure out how to make it dial out, or which button to push to answer the phone when it rings! You don't need to figure out how to set the phone into a cradle in just the right way so a little light flashes letting you know it will ring if someone calls your number. You don't have to move from room to room or perhaps outside then rotate your body and tilt your head in various positions in an attempt to find just the right reception, or any reception at all. You just plug it in dial and go. So what if I can't walk 20 feet away from the base while chatting! I'd rather not be able to than to have to in order to use the dang thing!
I'm thinking the best thing about the good old fashioned red rotary dial phones though, is the novelty. The curious and amazed expressions on the younger sets faces. They think it is a very strange object, no doubt from the dinosaur age their parents sprung from, and truly can't imagine these things were once actually commonplace! Whoever heard of a dial on a phone? Where are the buttons? Next I'm thinking we might want to pull out the old TV. A black and white one with a dial for switching channels. Wonder if we could find one of those plastic sheets to place over the screen to supposedly give the illusion you were viewing in color. What were those? From bottom to top, brown, green then blue? Little Joe and his family on Bonanza looked great on that thing! Then I can sit back and smile as the kids ask, "Where's the remote?" The perfect opportunity to introduce them to my Father's remote! See that dial? "Don't turn it so fast! You'll strip it!"