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Sunday, March 11, 2012

Don't Leave Home Without it!

MoBo Phobias
We have become so reliant on technology that we are making ourselves slaves to machines.

I left my home in a hurry and found to my horror that I had left behind both of my mobiles. Panic!
I considered turning the car around and going back for them, but time was of the essence, and if I continued I could make my destination comfortably, and in time. So, I continued on with thoughts of all the things that could go wrong for which I would absolutely need my mobile.

I was on my way to purchase tickets for the coming concert in Valencia by Lang Lang, perhaps the greatest pianist/showman in the world. I had left home very early in the morning to reach The Palau de la Musica
where I had to present myself in person. Tickets would go on sale via the Internet the next day, however I was fairly certain all of the Season tickets holders would claim their seats, and together with the tickets sold on the first day meant there might not be any available the next day.

As I drew up to The Palau, there was not a person in sight. Perhaps I had the wrong day, but I continued on to find a parking place. When I walked into the building I was flabbergasted to find hordes of people in the area of the selling booth, and after being given the number 138 I walked towards the other side of the building where there must have been about 500 people. They had started serving early, and number 10 was being served.

Evidently, there were so many people congregating in front of the building that they opened the doors early and gave people numbers, then the people disbursed into the spacious lobby. They had come in groups to buy tickets for the whole family and friends, so one number was used to buy several tickets, perhaps as many as twenty or thirty tickets.

This was going to take some time and I needed to contact several people to let them know that my appointments for the rest of the day were going to have to be cancelled. What a dreadful day to leave my phones at home. For the first time in twenty years I would have to use a public phone.  The Palau has four mounted on walls, and I couldn't get any of them to work.

Firstly, I felt the need to use a wet wipe on the phone before placing it to my head. Secondly, they are such complicated instruments these days, I wasn't sure whether I was the reason I couldn't get one to work, or whether it was the machine. Finally, I did make a contact, but at a total cost of five euros.

The Palau originally intended to sell  between the hours of 9:30 and 13:30,  I finally bought my two tickets at ten minutes before two, and at 2pm they closed for lunch and returned at five pm. By the end of the day, I believe all tickets were sold out.

Roaming around without my mobiles was a peculair feeling. At first I was very uneasy, but as the day progressed I began to relax. Phones were ringing all around me, several with ring tones similar to my own, but I knew it was not for me. I felt a great sense of freedom, kind of like walking around without my under, and over pants. It felt good. Mankind is not wired to be on alert at all times. When my phone rings and I am driving, I ignore it, intending to return the call when I am stopped. When I am eating, or attending to some matter during which I should not be disturbed, I place my phones on silence.

There are those people with their smart phones that register their every incoming e-mail. That is built-in stress, and I know that isn't good.

I am not likely to leave my mobiles at home any time soon, but I will continue to control my reliance upon them, and perhaps I won't buy the iPhone after all. That piece of equipment is so powerful and capable of so much technology, I fear it would enslave me into total bondage.

Copyright (c) 2012   Eugene Carmichael