Life, Temporarily Unplugged

This evening Joe decided we needed to stop by Best Buy to get new screen protectors for our iPhones. Because it was 5 degrees out and the parking lot was icy, he agreed to take both phones into the store while I waited in the car with the engine running.

As I sat there, I watched three men come out of the store dressed in orange robes. My curious mind immediately reached for my phone to Google, “What group wears orange robes?” Only there was no phone. I filed that question away for later.

On the front of the Best Buy building was a huge sign advertising, “Buy a 100" TV for your home theater.” Naturally, I wanted to know the price of a 100-inch television. I reached for my phone. Still no phone. Another question added to the mental list.

A few teenage or twenty-something young men walked past the car on their way into the store. They were wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts. I glanced at the screen on my dashboard. Five degrees. It was windy, too. I wanted to check the “feels like” temperature on the weather app. Once again, I reached for my phone that was not there.

It was at that point that it really hit me how often I Google things or use apps throughout the day. I take my phone, and my constant access to information, completely for granted. I’m not judging whether that’s a good habit or a bad one. Just noticing.

Earlier today, during lunch with Oliver and Megan, I only took my phone out once, to take a photo of Oliver’s refried bean–covered face. I showed him the picture and he smiled, clearly pleased with his bean-based artwork.

I also use my phone to track my steps, log my food, listen to podcasts while using the NuStep, read on the Kindle app, and manage a long list of everyday tasks. That list includes, but is not limited to, checking credit card accounts and depositing the occasional check into my credit union account.

About twenty minutes later, Joe came back out and told me they only had one screen protector in stock. He had them replace his, and we’ll check back in a week or two for mine, or try another Best Buy nearby. I was fine with that. My protector isn’t in bad shape.

By then, I had a mental list of six things to look up once I got home. I was driving, so it had to wait. Siri and I don’t always understand each other, so I tend to avoid asking her for help with searches.

Anyway, that was a long twenty minutes in a parking lot.