[Come summer heat, much of my blogging momentum melts away. Hence an experiment until Labor Day: fifty minimalist posts about whatever.]
We get many robo-calls and calls from call centers. The robo-calls are always the same three. One begins, in a serious baritone voice: “Seniors!” The second, from an excited-sounding woman, exclaims: “Let the good times begin!” I once listened to this for more than thirty seconds; it was about time-sharing. The third, also from a woman: “This is an important message about your credit card. There is nothing wrong with your card, but….” She wants me to switch to a card with a lower interest rate. I can’t even tell these three recordings to leave me alone; there’s only a circle-dialing mechanism at the other end.
I recognize call centers by the background buzz of voices. Then someone who can barely speak English mispronounces my last name and introduces himself. Whatever Ramon or Filipe wants to sell me, I cut him off sharply and hang up. When I first did this, I also felt sorry for Ramon or Filipe, whatever third-world country he was calling from, because he must have been at the end of his rope to have to listen to me yell at him and slam down the receiver. But now I’ve grown hard. It’s a dog-eat-dog world.
I should buy three new phones with caller I.D. capability — for the kitchen, my office and the bedroom. Somehow it never gets to the top of my list. I’d rather spend money on something pleasurable. Or perhaps some part of me likes being annoyed.
ON BEING OLD 
Happy birthday. I have been enjoying your summer series immensely. Please keep it up.
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Thanks so much, Janet. I’m trying. [Were you counting out days on the calendar, too? 🙂 ]
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Well, caller ID is the best invention ever–worth buying a new phone, and you could just get one in a place that you are in the most–I have mine next to my desk. 95% of calls, I think, are robo calls–by the way they prey on the more mature folks, like us, with scare tactics! My friends call me on
my cell phone usually. Treat yourself to a birthday present, and get a new phone–that is unless you like yelling at
the poor folk who call you!
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Thank you for the good advice, Mommy. (Meaning, I know, I know.) But the first and more important (and expensive) birthday treat is going to have to be a new bed. More about this anon.
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We don’t have caller ID either on our phones. We are now on a Do Not Call Register, so I can say this is an illegal call and hang up. Of course we still get calls and I have to be careful I don’t do that to a gallery or someone wanting my husband!
It is frustrating to be interrupted, no matter what it is, to be drawn to the phone for no purpose.
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Frustrating for sure. And angry-making when there are many of them!
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Belated birthday wishes from me too! ❤
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Thanks so much, Barbara. ❤
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Yes, they are a feature in our lives too. Ours usually start with ‘Am I speaking to Mr/Mrs Green?’. You have to get past this to be certain it’s not a real call… grr.
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Grrr indeed!
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Belated birthday wishes, Nina!!! Hope you had a wonderful day and that you have a wonderful year!
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Thank you, Cynthia. I hope the year ahead is wonderful too, for both of us.
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