Head Case

Was tempted to title this post "Everyone's a Fruit and Nutcase," but remembered that not all of my readers were raised to the dulcet tones of the up-beat British advertising industry, which has historically been impressively consistent in bolstering enthusiasm for the yummy UK chocolate industry!

Anyway, Head Case seemed a better option for today's introduction of the new "no cell phone" law which hit California motorists this first lovely, summery day of July.

"It's the first, Mom, it's the first," squealed attentive under ten-year-old as I rummaged around in my new and astoundingly orange, multi-sectional handbag whilst driving him through town today (even more reason to stay on the bike, unless you can be ticketed for riding whilst under the influence of a cell phone call, which does seem somewhat of a sensible deterrent to irrational downhill racing).

"What?" I replied, as I am want to do all the more frequently these days of double duty: maintaining responsible freelance writer's workload while three respective offspring simultaneously enjoy leisurely eleven week school vacation.

Too late, I already had my Motorola to the ear, which must be a record for me, as nine times out of ten I fail to find it in the flat seconds it takes for voice mail to click in. Must be the nifty new bag and its many, sensible pockets. Plus the fact that aforementioned ten-year-old took it upon himself to make a summer project out of reorganizing his bumbling Mum's bag.

This alarmed the law abiding young fella even further and prompted a severe digging in the right hand ribs from his position in back. It didn't take me too long to twig on to my immediate display of disrespect for the laws of this caring state in which we live.

And if I hadn't just read that those who dare to disobey will be dealt with a mighty blow to the full extent of the law, I wouldn't have been looking in blind panic in the rear view mirror for the nifty girls and boys in blue.

Cut off my call and crammed the phone back into the farthest recesses of my flashy new purse. Haven't mastered the Blue Tooth and don't see wireless as a way to handle the brave new world. Headsets with wires will be more up my alley just as soon as that elusive new I Phone G3 gets on the market at the end of next week.

Although I've been waiting for months for the all-new and improved, space age, supersonic I Phone to make its debut, I doubt I'll be camping out front of our local AT&T store the night before its launch. Can barely contain my enthusiasm to make the switch from awful old Motorola $10 indistructible special to epic phone and mobile office of the future. Have already watched the promo video via apple email, sucker that I am this time, for I've never been seduced by a phone before.

The fact that I'll be able to blog from the I Phone is a big, fat plus. You'll never hear the end of me. Just not while I'm driving. I promise!

Comments

[PTownFan]

My daughter called me as I was driving to the gym yesterday to be sure that I was in fact hands free. I think her constant "nagging" about the issue is a greater deterrent than the ticket. Good for her I say! And those blasted earpieces have a way of working themselves into the most awkward places... purses, between seats, etc. I think the CHP is wise to predict a slight uptick in accidents the next few weeks as as we all get in the groove.

[Frances]

Yes, P'Town Fan, I agree, it's hard enough to find the phone, let alone the accessories. I bet in the future cars will be made with built in cell phone systems, which we pre-program and are subsequently voice activated at the press of a button, something like on-star I suppose... Good luck with the new regime!

[Suzanne]

Oddly enough, I too could not find the headset today... Didn't answer the phone. Actually, it felt a bit freeing... I wish I could feel free to let it roll over to voicemail more often. Remember the good old days when we just had phones at home?

[Lesley]

Leave it up to my oldest son, who seems to have extremely bad karma as far as traffic violations, to be the first person issued a citation (July 1st) for talking on his phone while driving. "But Officer, I don't watch the news or read the paper." Didn't seem to work, no excuses boy pay up!

[Frances]

Is he writing the book on how many tickets it's possible to amass in the first 18 months of driving? Maybe he should consider investing in tinted windows. The entire regional police force must be on alert for sightings... Consider it all a learning curve!

[Frances]

Is he writing the book on how many tickets it's possible to amass in the first 18 months of driving? Maybe he should consider investing in tinted windows. The entire regional police force must be on alert for sightings... Consider it all a learning curve!