Submitted by Fred on

Telephone Test

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Lifestyle

On Monday I received a number of calls on my cell phone from a number which I did not recognize and which the phone did not identify. As a practice, I normally do not respond to a number which is not in my phone's address book.

However, the number kept calling and in deference to the callers's persistence and my curiosity I finally answered.

I was rewarded by hearing a man say that my voicemail box was full and asking if I recognized his voice. I did not and there was an awkward silence until the caller identified himself as a friend from my boyhood who I had not spoken to in at least 40 years.

Once we got past all of this we caught up and it was nice, but things were far more simple 40 years ago.

Comments

Submitted by MarilynGenoa on Thu, 06/21/2018 - 21:53

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Marilyn Genoa

Many lessons but I’m going to check my voicemail and make sure that it’s not full
Fred Klein

Some voicemail messages are special and I save them

Submitted by Judy_Mauer on Thu, 06/21/2018 - 23:20

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Judy Mauer

well... 40 years ago - you nver know who was calling - so you always picked up....the lndline in your home.
Victoria Drogin

That’s the best. Catching up with old friends. Glad he kept trying and you picked up. :))
Daniel Schwartz

As a person that is required to telemarket at times as part of my job, it is quite frustrating when you find a business line's voice mail full. That person usually never empty's it which just perpetuates more calls. In my opinion, everyone deserves at least one pick up. What you say and do after that is fair game. Glad you were able to reconnect due to a persistent caller.

Submitted by NeilHollander on Fri, 06/22/2018 - 06:15

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Neil Hollander

Somebody is at the keypad outside my gate . Unannounced . Do I respond ? Or do I just send the dogs to provide some Intel ? How presumptuous . The phone ? Same thing . Unannounced intrusion . I only pick it up if it's one of the kids . Other than that no . Fred is close to the point of pickup . There's always a surprise guest . David or Jackson . Paul or Corey . Who do I call back ? Only Fred . If Aaron Judge had a good day . I find incoming phone calls to be a pain in the ass . Intrusive and presumptuous . Rarely do I say " oh wow it's uncle Milton !" Even caller ID is presumptuous . Do I or don't I want to make a decision on the spot to let somebody have access. I'll usually be ruminating or listening to a podcast on a blue tooth speaker . I find it fascinating that I can listen to a podcast while deep in the redwood wilderness . All 3 dogs have explicit instructions to eat adult intruders . Just the way I like it .

Hollander Sends

Submitted by Fred on Fri, 06/22/2018 - 22:30

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Fred Klein

This is my pleasure filled experience with you: place the call and wait for return call as we drive home from a winning game (only), take the call and allow good times roll!
Corey Bearak

I am with Hollander. I have rules about answering. At the same time I prefer to answer calls with a live voice. I prefer folks not experience voice mail. Goes back to time I was chief aide to a legislator. I argued constituents deserve a live person on the phone.
I am sure it was nice to engage with a blast from the past.

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