Thought you might like to read how one experience leads to another

About eleven years ago, when I was still driving my late husband's 1985 Suburu (which I adored), I was driving back from a local Grocery Store with my car filled with items purchased by my two friends and myself. Those were the days when the city of Surprise had large open spaces free from all of the stores, restaurants, Malls, etc. which now fill every drop of land.

Now, in reality, Arizona did not like a car purchased back East. Not the state perhaps, but I found out the hard way that automobiles then were built for the climate of the state it was being sold. My car just did NOT like the weather here in this state, and I used to joke that it lived more at the repair station than in my carport.

Being younger and much more active, we were chatting in good humor when - SUDDENLY, I looked for a place where there might be a building, pulled in and made the girls get out - FAST.

I had no idea what was wrong, but I tried not to panic - but "smoke" was coming through the openings in the dashboard. Poor gals, they had no idea why I just said --- LEAVE! I looked around and all that I could see at that time was a large building which appeared empty. I told the girls to wait a minute and I would see if anyone was around. Yup, lucky us. A woman was just about to close her desk and the building.

Way back then, both Angie AND her husband were alive and when the kind woman said that we could use her phone, Angie called Mike to come and get her, my other Friend, their groceries since I did not dare to try to go the three blocks back to our Community where we each had a Condo.

If memory serves me, I had them go back with Mike and leave me, MY groceries and my car and I then called my Repair Shop saying: "It's me again!". The shop from there was about 2 and a half miles and they sent a tow truck to my location to bring my car back to the shop. Mike insisted on waiting so he could take me home as well (what a guy) since in reality everything was close by and traffic was NOT what it is today in the same route.

Once my car was fixed, and returned to me --the three of us went to the Large Mall and I found Alltel and bought my very first LEAST EXPENSIVE Cell Phone. It never dawned on me until then that one would need one in case of an emergency. I explained to the salesman that I did not want it to talk to anyone especially since I only used my home phone - just wanted a way to contact for HELP!

To this day, I still do not know the number., and used it only to contact my friends or when one needed to call a family member. It was of great use when my car was hit while I was stopped at a red light. I had two members of the Gift Shop after coming back from a Christmas Lunch, and the jolt was huge. The woman who was not used to driving, hit the gas instead of the brake. I called 911 and I was the only one brought to emergency.

One of the gals was very thoughtful. My car was drivable and she drove the other woman home, then came to get me after I was checked over and had whiplash. The other lady was very poor and I went to a lawyer (they drove me) since I was really shaken up. But because I had what he called "excellent insurance coverage" they decided not to take the case. My insurance Co. took care of repairs, car loan, etc. But to this day, I still have a little pain from that accident -- but wasn't it lucky that I had a CELL PHONE.

WELL - Cell Phone Died on me -- battery dead and not worth fixing. This is now CURRENT! When I mean current, I had to see about replacing it about six months ago. They were GREAT! No charge for a new one, this time a cute little fold over (that I still do not know how to use) - but I can call out. I still did not know the number and they pasted it on the back of my phone. Before I left, I remarked that my internet friends had special ring tones and I would love to hear something from Clay Aiken. He did something or other -- and said: DONE!

Now, remember --- noone every has called me on my Cell Phone. Last week I was on my way out to bring my friend to her Doctor when I heard a ring. It was not from my housephone, nor my Cell phone, but my computer. I ran to it - and told my son who was calling on "IChat" I was on my way out and I would call him while waiting for her as she saw her Dr.

I called him and he said he would call me back since he was on another phone.

I was just sitting in this very quiet reception room when suddenly I hear Clay singing! I looked around. It took a few seconds for me to realize it was my CELL PHONE, hearing what they gave me for the very first time: are you ready?--------

It was " JUST HERE WAITING FOR YOU "! What a fabulous choice, and really exciting.

A long story just to come to this punch line --- well it was time for me to write anyway!

Until next time --- thanks for reading, Marian