Tell Me About It

   I enjoy watching movies and tv series with historical settings, anything that is beyond the past 75 years. Long before computers and cell phones. There is just something about the ways people used to communicate that appeals to me.

   In the early 1900’s telephones were not in everyone’s household. If there was urgency to contact someone, you would go to a neighbor’s house to borrow their phone. Of course, you’d have to offer to pay to cover the cost, especially for long-distance calls (they were expensive). But I wonder how many instead opted to climb a telephone pole like Oliver did on “Green Acres?”*

   Another choice was the pay phone. They were numerous in neighborhoods and businesses until their phase-outs when cell phones became commonplace. Although these pay-phones were in open areas, many were popularized as rectangle, wooden cases with a folding door for privacy. The glass ones got popular in the 1950’s. But alas, with pay-phones you had to make sure you carried the correct change for your call. And operators were always standing by 24/7 to assist in finding a number, or reminding you to deposit more dimes.

photo by michaelgoodin flickr.com

   But if no one was at the receiving end of the phone call, well too bad! There were no answering machines to take your call, at least not family-affordable ones. That started gaining ground around the 1960’s.

   Writing letters was also an important part of communication. Thank goodness for the postal service. People may have complained for years about how slow they were, even nowadays calling it a dinosaur, but it really was a blessing and still is, to have and hold a tangible message or greeting card.

photo by mozlase on pixabaycom

   I like reading about old letters kept by families, some are stored in museums. And postcards echo past pleasures of paradise. People may have waited for months to hear from others due to Pony Express and transatlantic mail via ship.

   Years ago when my mom died, I was given the last two letters that I wrote her. It’s hard to express in words the feelings that washed over me. I had written a poem about it back then. Here’s an excerpt:

      The letters that I wrote to her came back to me
      after she’d read them and kept them in a drawer
      by the bed where she’d lain…
      for all time she held them close to her
      till time for her was gone.

      No more letters to write or read now
      for her hands to hold and eyes to see.
      Now I pour out my sorrows in letters not sent,
      nor can they return to me.

   What we talk about matters. What we write about has meaning. We have numerous ways to share our message with others. You may never have to climb a telephone pole to transmit the message (Oliver!!*). But just ask yourself: Who holds on to your words? Will the means of your communication stand the test of time?                (No RSVP required!)            Theresa M.

* Green Acres tv comedy series (1965-1971) - Oliver, one of the main characters