All Is Forgiven Mr. Brown

About 3 years ago I dated a guy who was OBSESSED with his phone. Every 5 minutes I swear he would pick it up, look at it, check his emails, check his text messages, etc. and it drove me crazy. I had just moved to NY, so I wasn't totally immersed in the hyper-communication era that was beginning. I didn't understand this whole phenom of ALWAYS being available to work, friends, family, jump offs via Smart Phones.

He wasn't the most savvy keeper of this phone though. I often times would have "dry run" tutorials on how to use it while he was in the restroom or away from the car or something. You know, just in case the time came when I needed to find some shit out and have to "stick and move" with retrieving information from his phone. Which I did end up doing unbeknownst to him as he drove us around Maryland.

"How does this little wind thing on the side work ?"
"How do I get to the text messages ?"
"Freakin high tech ass phone...can't stand this damn thing."

Those were all of the sentiments I had about this dang toy of his that kept his attention 24/7. He couldn't even hold a decent conversation with me because he was always peaking down at that phone.

I just recently got a BlackBerry, a whole 3 years after my initial hatred for that thing began and I too had the evil eye given back to me from someone I love dearly because I would stop mid sentence to check it once that red light started to blink.

My Grandfather. The man who doesn't even turn on his cell phone. I know he didn't understand my obsession with this thing. Checking phone calls, emails, text, BlackBerry messenger and Facebook CONSUMES me to no end. I wasn't like this with my Treo, so I have no idea what is going on.

I once thought my ex's behavior with that phone was odd, hell... HE was odd to begin with. I would secretly think, "Oh My God, is he bored ? WHO is he talking to ? Is it THAT important that you have to text them now ? ... really ? right now ?" However, I am learning that there is something about always knowing what is going on that drives this obsession with my phone.

I love my Grandfather to pieces, and it dawned on me while having lunch at our favorite restaurant. I too ignored some of my Grandfather's statements and conversation to check that damn phone. Somebody cue Chrisette Michelle, hot damn...I just had an epiphany !!!

It wasn't you Mr. Brown....it was the crack....