Nowadays, I use caller-ID often. Being the mom of three kids, there is RARELY a good time to answer a call. One of my kids is usually on the brink of spontaneously combusting or I am in the middle of changing a diaper, or I know that just as soon as I pick up the phone a little one (or big one) will find me to tattle on the other or ask for some forbidden food. I get plenty of "Unknown Name, Unknown Number" calls. Usually, it is from United Blood Services, calling to let me know that I am eligible to donate, AGAIN. No, thank yoooooouu, I would prefer not to faint in front of complete strangers. My kids also know that we don't answer "Unknown Name, Unknown Number" calls. I have them so well trained that most days, they don't even hear the phone when it rings. In the past, if I were busy or unable to answer the phone, I would let it go to voice mail or I would check Caller-ID and return the call when it was convenient.
Today, during dinner, the phone rang. From my place at the dinner table I turned around to look at the display on the phone base. It said, "Name not found." "Odd?" I thought, "I have never seen that before", so I checked the number. It read "10081111153" My mind scrolled through the mini Rolodex in my mind. "1008? I don't know anyone with that pre-fix." My mind kept scrolling through the Rolodex, "1008, 1008, 1008--That is an international number, maybe?" Now by this time we are on ring 3 and a half. The call will soon be sucked into the black hole of voice mail. Remember when you could pick up the phone mid-message if you had an answering machine? Forget it, if it goes to voice mail. "1008? Yeah, that would be an inter...." I couldn't make my fingers work quick enough. Of course it was an international call!?! I am so dense sometimes!
I pushed the green button on my phone and said a breathless, "Hello?"
Silence.
"Hello?"
More silence.
I closed my eyes and said a little prayer. "Hello?"... please, please, please I whispered
"Robin?" My heart melted and jumped all at the same time at the sound of Mike's voice. I smiled.
"Hey, Baby! How are you?" With that, the kids exploded in chorus, "DADDY, I want to talk to Daddy!"
So, here I am, back to the days of answering every "Unknown Name, Unknown Number" call.
5 comments:
You need to get yourself on a do not call list. It has cut our unknown name/number calls drastically. Then you won't have to pause to wonder who it is!
As you know, I just got caller ID after 7 years of marriage. It is a delicious addition to my noseyness.
Don't worry, I always answer your calls
I hear ya! My fave is the 5 digit numbers. The first time I got one of those from my hubby I was thinking about not answering, but when they are gone, you just don't chance it.
I don't answer calls that don't have numbers, either. Curt and Cathy don't have caller ID, so not only am I not sure I should answer the phone at their house, I also have no idea if it is one of them calling to ask for help or something... Needless to say a ringing phone brings some anxiety.
How great you got to hear Mike's voice!
Gotta love it when the hubby calls <3
I am so glad you took that call! I have done that with Evan before.
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