When I was a little girl, we had a black rotary dial phone. It sat on a little table by a lamp in the corner of the living room. Nearby there were several large telephone books containing local, state and business phone numbers. We got new books every year. I still remember my phone number.
Our phone was on a “party line.” That meant we shared it with several other families. It was cheaper that way. If you wanted to use the phone, and someone else was on the line, you had to wait until they finished and hung up. If someone called you, and the line was busy, they had to hang up and try again later—no call waiting. As a child, it was sometimes tempting to listen in on someone’s conversation, but we always got caught, and they finished their conversation quickly.
Long-distance calls were a big deal. We had to call on Sundays when the rates were the cheapest. We all gathered in the living room while mother placed the call. If we got a chance to say a quick “Hi,” we were always reminded it was long-distance and not to take too long. Long-distance was only used at other times for emergencies.
So many changes have occurred with phones today. Nowadays, with cell phones, we can do so many things: text, share photos, instant message, etc.
Back in the day, we did the best we could with what we had, and I think we should be proud!
—Bernadette R. Gentry