Memorize No More

I read a quote today that made me realize the world has changed in order to make us lazier.

Growing up, I memorized numerous phone numbers and locations. I still remember my old phone numbers from the last four houses I have lived in. Most times people say their phone numbers in a singsong manner. 3-3-4 or 3-4. But our last home phone number, I used to mess around and caused a bit of chaos in telling people.

  • 533-4833
  • 888-1046
  • 533-8248
  • 8-5678-02

One phone number I remember clearly was the one my father had gotten for a side hustle that he had started in the early 90’s. The secondary line in our home was 882-8822. When his business was no more, I ended up adapting that number for myself as a teenager. I had my own phone and answering machine. Too cool for school.

Nowadays I know both my number and my wife’s number off by heart. I have no idea what my kid’s cellphone numbers are or any other family members. I don’t even know my work phone numbers. That’s because everything is saved under Contacts in my phone. I even add addresses which means I don’t need to care about how to get places. The same thing is in my navigation in my car.

I don’t need to think anymore. Just announce out loud, “Hey Siri- call…” and that’s it. No need to even scroll to find the name and number once it’s saved. Convenient and lazy. Just like automatic windows and locks in a car. And cameras, and heated seats… too many things we take for granted.

Heck, I could dictate a blog if I wanted one day. Maybe I’ll try that and see how it goes.

Memorize No More

I read a quote today that made me realize the world has changed in order to make us lazier.

Growing up, I memorized numerous phone numbers and locations. I still remember my old phone numbers from the last four houses I have lived in. Most times people say their phone numbers in a singsong manner. 3-3-4 or 3-4. But our last home phone number, I used to mess around and caused a bit of chaos in telling people.

  • 533-4833
  • 888-1046
  • 533-8248
  • 8-5678-02

One phone number I remember clearly was the one my father had gotten for a side hustle that he had started in the early 90’s. The secondary line in our home was 882-8822. When his business was no more, I ended up adapting that number for myself as a teenager. I had my own phone and answering machine. Too cool for school.

Nowadays I know both my number and my wife’s number off by heart. I have no idea what my kid’s cellphone numbers are or any other family members. I don’t even know my work phone numbers. That’s because everything is saved under Contacts in my phone. I even add addresses which means I don’t need to care about how to get places. The same thing is in my navigation in my car.

I don’t need to think anymore. Just announce out loud, “Hey Siri- call…” and that’s it. No need to even scroll to find the name and number once it’s saved. Convenient and lazy. Just like automatic windows and locks in a car. And cameras, and heated seats… too many things we take for granted.

Heck, I could dictate a blog if I wanted one day. Maybe I’ll try that and see how it goes.

Phone Upgrade Day

Every two to four years we upgrade our cellphones and plans. Today was that day. My wife and I and our two youngest kids each got our own iPhone 12.

My old phone taking a picture of it’s replacement.

We upgraded from the iPhone 8 so it’s kind of a big deal for us. Yes we are a family of iPhone users and have been since the iPhone 4. I like the simplicity and user friendliness of Apple products. The transfer of data is easy as well. Even with new features on the phone, I like that it has all my old apps laid out exactly where they were from my previous phone.

Of course we did our upgrade at Costco. Which was a fantastic deal. We got the phones for $0 down, free car chargers and ear buds for each of us. And $250 in Costco gift cards for each phone. Basically handing us $1000 which we promptly spent 3/4 of it.

Back to school sale and Costco is a great deal. Being at Costco for two hours to set up the phones is the only caveat. But new phone!

Old Tech Memories

Every night I plug my iPhone into the charging cord beside my bed. The cord often falls to the floor so I have to pick it up in order to place my iPhone on my bedside table. The other night I grabbed the wrong cord. A cord I didn’t know I still had.

We haven’t had a landline in about four years. Ever since our oldest finished grade seven. At that time, we had a set of four cordless phones that all connected at one location- our bedroom. When we ditched the landline, I simply unplugged the phone. Over the past few days, I’ve been pulling stuff out from under our bed for Christmas. I guess the cord got caught and came out and I hadn’t noticed it.

There are plenty of images out there along the lines of “Remember corded phones?” I remember. When I was little, we had a rotary phone. I remember them in other people’s homes as well. Then push button ones. And really long cords to reach from one room to another.

In the mid 80’s we got our first cordless phone. I thought it was the greatest thing ever! It had one of those telescopic antennas that you could push down when you were finished the call. Except for the antenna- which eventually got bent and snapped off- the phone was extremely durable and aerodynamic! It flew across the room at my younger sister a couple of times.

Phones have come a long way since they were first invented. I’m using my phone to write this blog post. I listen to music, take photos and watch videos every day as well on my iPhone. Crazy.

The coolest thing a kid/teen could have in the 80’s was a Ghetto Blaster with a black and white tv built in. Man, did I ever want one of those. I guess I have to settle with having the world at my fingertips as an adult instead. I wonder what inventions my kids would wish they owned when they grow up?

Did you have any memories like this, or did you own one of those Blasters? Please share.