The pay phone challenge and remember when

Things change. This is one of the first lessons in life. Things change all the time. It would be nice if everything always stayed the same. Actually, it might be nicer to think about things that never change, than experience them. After all, there are all these schools of thought proclaiming change as a good thing. It’s also possible that in reality, such things are relative.

With this in mind, it can also be said, the more things change the more they stay the same. However, that feels more like philosophy, than reality. For example, the pay phone. When was the last time anyone saw one of those? Especially one that actually works. I’ll go first. I saw a broken one, just the other day.

I know it was broken, because I stopped to see if it worked. It was such a surprise to see one anyway. After noticing all the parts that were missing, and its ancient appearance, it was safe to assume it was not in service. Furthermore, I wouldn’t have had a number to call. I quickly realized I haven’t memorized any phone numbers (other than my own) in years.

The Pay Phone Challenge

It wasn’t that I didn’t know anyone with a phone number. In fact, I have a lot of contacts on my phone. However, I don’t have a clue what their numbers are because I have not memorized them. Once upon a time that was the primary way to make a phone call. Dial the number from memory. Especially at a pay phone.

That was the basic idea behind the pay phone. It was a convenience to help in times of trouble, or distress. Back in those days all phones were tethered in some way. At home they were tethered to a wall. Out in the wild, pay phones were also tethered to a wall. Except in the case of the booth. The pay phone booth. All glass, and a strange folding door.

Additionally, the booth was a basic privacy mechanism. It helped shield the caller from all the traffic noise. Furthermore, it only cost a dime to use it. The cost increased over the years and the last time I can remember actually using a pay phone, it was a dollar to make a local call. That was definitely before the age of the smartphone.

The Pay Phone and Remember When

Sometimes, remember when, is a fun game. Other times it’s a reminder of how time flies. I just tried to remember two of the phone numbers in my contacts. Nil. I couldn’t even remember one number. Therefore, a pay phone would still be unhelpful. Especially one that actually works.

Once upon a time, the payphone helped make the telephone more redundant, and available. It helped the stranded traveler call for help. It was available at bus stations and airports. And it saved my bacon at least twice in the nineties. And that is the challenge of this article. Memory enhancement. Learning some phone numbers, is easier than trying to interpret the tax code.

It will begin by memorizing the phone numbers of my top five contacts. When I have those completely mastered, then it will be time for more. The idea is to strengthen my memory skills, and not just rely on technology to handle everything.

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