LIberty 8-5829
I will never forget that number. That was my telephone number when I was a kid. The first two numbers of the exchange corresponded with a word and the letters on the dial.
The reason I will never forget that number is that it was drilled into my head at a tender age. If ever there was a problem, that was the telephone number to call home. All kids were taught the number to call home. Just in case. We memorized the number, and the number didn't change. That was the number.
As I met with an old client yesterday, he gave me his new number. I've got about 20 old numbers for him. Maybe more. I've got a dozen old numbers for my sister. Maybe more. As I flip the old rolodex, I've got numbers crossed out, new numbers written in, for just about everybody.
Will a child born today remember his home telephone number 50 something years from now? What number does a parent today teach his child to memorize?
The reason I will never forget that number is that it was drilled into my head at a tender age. If ever there was a problem, that was the telephone number to call home. All kids were taught the number to call home. Just in case. We memorized the number, and the number didn't change. That was the number.
As I met with an old client yesterday, he gave me his new number. I've got about 20 old numbers for him. Maybe more. I've got a dozen old numbers for my sister. Maybe more. As I flip the old rolodex, I've got numbers crossed out, new numbers written in, for just about everybody.
Will a child born today remember his home telephone number 50 something years from now? What number does a parent today teach his child to memorize?
I don't know about other parents, but I teach mine: "I need to speak to my attorney, and I don't consent to any search."
But I digress.
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At what age? I've got something special for the younguns.
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I'm not sure what age I would do it if I had to start all over again. Certainly before any regular contact with the almost unstoppable and at best on balance unhostile juggernaut of governmental authority (but I repeat myself), so kindergarten at the very latest.
Be kind of interesting to be a fly on the wall . . .
"Who would like to share some toys?"
"I need to speak to my attorney, and I don't consent to any search."
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Mine are taught from the ACLU card and the Flex Your Rights site. Never talk to the LEOs unless you called them, and be careful even then.
Mine was Edgewood 33105. Last used about 40 years ago.
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My wife and I have never had a land line, so our cell numbers have ported with us no matter where we move around the country. The kids have mommy's number memorized. Easy, and no risk of not being to reach someone who's not at home.
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When I was a kid, mommies were always at home. Except when they went to the supermarket or the beauty salon (on Fridays).
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Been there. Done that. Brunswick 8-1976.
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Some parents teach their kids a number which the government has made easy to remember - 911. That is just one more thing to show how reliance has drifted away from family.
Keeping the family thing in mind - can you impress your wife and tell her you remember her phone number from when you courted - even now at your fifty-something years old?
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Shhhhhh! Are you nuts?
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Actually, some folks consider me nuts. In this case however, it is worth it. Get hold of it somehow and unleash it anytime you need to stock up on points. With the right timing, it is equal to or better than a dozen roses and chocolate.
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Somehow I doubt that would impress Mrs. SJ.
We didn't know our phone number. At least I sure can't remember it. Mom's advice was "stay in a gang."
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Dr. SJ. She would never forgive me if she saw that.
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You know I did think of that. Me bad. Don't mind if you edit.
Are you really moderating everything?
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Yup. Everything. Notice how you're not getting the deluge of crap lately? I'm dealing with it all on this end, and catching crap from all the real commenters.
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You've mentioned it. I didn't mind deleting it. The least I could do.
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Heh. Wouldn't work for me. I moved in with her, so remembering the number is not so impressive...
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Exchange phone numbers? Rolodex? Huh?
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Ask your grandfather.
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Too bad you have to monitor everything, but I appreciate that you do.
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I'm praying it won't last much longer and we can all go back to our carefree ways.
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This post would be far more personally rewarding for me if you would enable images in comments so that I could post that "Old Man Yells at Cloud" pic from the Simpsons.
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It pains me that you were unable to do that.
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271-3908. Only 36 years ago, but hey.
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If it's numbers, instead of a word, it doesn't count.
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Four nine nine - 7157
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Oh. I'm sorry. Well, I have bookmarked your blog for later review-I will check back for the next contest. Nice blog!
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Now I feel really special. If only a thousand spammers who aren't my friends would check back to leave me idiotic comments in broken English, then my self-esteem would soar.
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I agree. Criminal defense is the protection of rights. Great post!
www.pleasehiremeiamnotslackosie.com
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I was an Ivanhoe exchange. Why Ivanhoe got honored in what was farmlands turned suburbia always puzzled me, but there you have it. My grandparents were Esplanade and Nightingale exchanges in Brooklyn, and I still remember all the numbers from over 50 years ago.
911? The system didn't exist when I was a kid. First you called home, then your neighbor, which was the second number you memorized.
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Mine was TE4-3008. My parents didn't teach me to remember the 'TE' by telling me it was the first two letters of a word though.
I'm English, but grew up in New York. I can also remember the phone number of my aunt and uncle in England (we stayed with them quite frequently). The number was 'Newnham Bridge 230'. In England the length of a telephone number varies - smaller towns have fewer digits in their telephone number. And Newnham Bridge was (and is) small. Of course, I didn't need to know this number - if I (or my brothers) got lost everyone knew who 'those American boys' were, and where they were staying.
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