Yesterday afternoon, I received a notification on my android phone that a security update needed to be installed, and I could allow the update “now” or at 2am. I clicked the 2am option so as to not have to go through the install, restart, etc… process at that time. Why not let it automatically update while I was asleep?? That’s where my logic went haywire.

When I went to bed last night, I double checked the phone charge, and it was at 96%. I woke up at 0510am, which is unusually late for me. Yes, I am an early bird. A VERY early bird! I reached for my phone which had worked its way underneath my pillow and turned it on. Nothing. I pressed the power button again for several seconds. Absolutely nothing. No light, flash, flicker, click, hum, or vibration. It was completely d-e-a-d.

Attempting to troubleshoot everything possible, I plugged it into the charger and left it for 30 minutes, double checking to insure the connections were tight and the outlet was on. Still dead. I could have had more success with 2 tin cans and a string.

THANK HEAVENS I STILL HAVE A LANDLINE!!!!!

My daughter in Maryland called on my home phone at 0615. She knows I get up early, and she also rings through frequently on my landline because of cell reception issues inside my house. I discussed the challenges with my mobile with her, and the reality set in. Without the ability to even switch on the phone, there is no way to return it to functionality short of sending it off to a manufacturer approved repair facility.

At 945am, I had a haircut scheduled. At least I think I remember it is at 945?? It’s on the text message my hairdresser sent me yesterday when the appointment was scheduled. This phone has to get repaired!!!!!

I used my computer to identify there is a T-mobile store a couple of miles from the hairdresser’s shop. But if I was to go there after my haircut, I needed to write down the address and directions because I couldn’t use my Google Map phone app for directions. But I can not even turn on the phone, so a trip to the store for help is pointless. Also, if I did go to T-mobile, I needed to write down my daughter’s phone number because my cellphone account is tied to hers. Phone numbers are not always commited to memory like they used to be…I just push redial or scan recent calls and press the name I wish to reach.

Where are my photos? What about my contacts? Thank heavens my technology proficient daughter instructed me how to use my laptop to find my photos on the Cloud (???) with Google photos. Some contacts were retrieved via Google contacts, but my sync wasn’t updated as it should have been, so many of my most recently added contacts are not showing up.

I have a couple of sick friends that I’ve been texting daily, but have no idea how to reach them to communicate my “outage”. Anyone trying to reach me on my mobile just gets sent directly to voicemail…but they have no way of knowing that I am unable to retrieve messages.

Rotary dial phones, address books, phone books and paper maps have all been replaced electronically. They were great, dependable and reliable. Few people even have these items or know how to used them anymore! I miss those days. But I also miss the convienience of being readily accessible to people who depend on me, and taking photos of everyday experiences or screenshots of quotes I’d like to keep. Plus, monitoring my step counter to record my activity daily, looking at the clock (because my watch stopped long ago), and checking the weather are part of my routine that have been disrupted.

The takeaway lesson from this is to keep a written record of any numbers you regulary utilize, and make certain your photos are retrievable because they can not be replaced! Wear a working watch, keep a spare map in your car, and keep moving at all cost. If not, you might find yourself incapacitated….like me!