When I was a little girl, dinnertime was considered a sacred event.

For that matter, much was considered sacred: answering the phone by stating the name of our residence, as well as our names,
asking to be excused (please) before leaving the table. You get the point. Above all, phone calls were off limits – especially disconcerting when waiting on a phone call from the object of a puppy love crush.

“She’s having her metrochow,” my dad would say.

Flash to Fourth of July, when we were all invited for dinner at Mom and Dad’s. We weren’t even close to desert when I noticed not
one, not two, but three iPhones pulled out. Not only were both of my brothers playing with their electronic habits, Dad was toying
with his as well.

I sat rather dumbfounded for a few minutes, watching one brother look up a movie review while my other brother checked out the latest weather forecast.

Then there was Dad, who was busy taking pictures of everyone, using some crazy application to put wigs on what would have otherwise appeared to be normal people. The only interruption came during cell phone calls and text messages. Usually the calls were made among them, as they sat no more than five feet away from each other.

I’m sure you can imagine my disdain. I suppose I should have seen it coming. None of them as much as blinks when the other answers a phone call when we all go out to eat. Perhaps worse, both of my parents can now be heard saying, “I’ve got a call on the cell phone. I’ll talk to you later.”

WHAT?!?

Have they no cell phone etiquette? Have they forgotten the days when, during family dinners, we didn’t dare even look in the direction of the phone if it rang? Have they lost their minds?

As childhood memories clashed with present-day reality, I’d had all I could take.

“Don’t you people realize there was a time when cell phones would have been forbidden at the dinner table? Look at Dad! He’s as bad as you two!” I said to my brothers.

My youngest brother laughed out loud (I couldn’t believe he actually heard me, to be honest).

“Ha! You’re exactly right!” he said. He was the only one who skipped a beat. Mind you, it was only a single beat he skipped.

Within seconds, they were sharing yet another “must-have” application. I guess in the end it was only me who was out of the loop. I’d left my cell phone at home so as not to interrupt the family gathering.

Clearly I was the one who hadn’t been thinking…

-Liz

Enjoy your Coffee Break!

Want to submit your own story to be considered for the Guest Headline post to run on Friday’s????

Just send your story to: lizandkate@live.com and check back on Friday to see if your story was selected.