I have been late to get on every bandwagon that's ever come along. In fact, most just pass me by. Clothing, technology, dance styles come and go and I generally watch them march along.

There was a time when I was adamant that I would never be one to fall victim to the curse of the cell phone. I *would not* be one of those people who would rather talk on the phone than the person in front of me. I would not speak loudly to a phone while people tried to eat their dinner or read their books. Better yet to just never have a cell phone at all. After all, who wants to be *that* available?? I pay $7/mo to PacBell for voicemail. If I'm not there, they can leave a message, darnit, and I'll get back to them.

Then I was given a cell phone. Then it became my work phone. Then it became a way to organize outings with my friends. Then it became a way to get in touch with me any time I wasn't at home. It's also my timekeeper since I stopped wearing a watch years ago.*

Still, the level of security that I regained last night when I got my regular phone finally hooked up in my new apartment was reassuring to me that I have not totally crossed over to the dark side. Yippee for regular phones!

*don't worry, I still don't talk on my phone in restaurants or on public transit. Unfortunately, as much as I hate other people who are unable to drive and talk on their phones at the same time, I do use my phone in the car. I'm trying to break myself of this habit.