Let me start by saying that I do not hate cell phones. I have nothing against them. In fact somehow I usually end up getting the newest, nicest touchscreen phone myself. But those who know me must know that I am not the biggest fan of talking on the phone. Yes I am perfectly normal 21-yr-old WOMAN who does not like talking on the phone. I only call someone to "talk" after I have exhausted all my other options. Otherwise my calls are limited to making doctor's appointment, ordering pizza, calling a friend with "hey, meet me in 10 min out front?" or calling in sick to work-- you know all the essential stuff, in fact the phone calls about which you know that this conversation will not last for more than 10 minutes. My friends have their own opinions of why I would not talk on the phone. Some believe that I am worried about money. Others think that I don't care about anyone so I don't talk to them. While still others believe that I talk to other friends but just not with them. All of them are wrong.

I don't know if it is that I get more tired talking on the phone than I would when I am physically with someone or is it that I start getting a migraine after sometime that I get agitated with long phone calls. I think it is more about the length of the conversation than the conversation itself.

Don't worry, I still talk on the phone a couple of times a week. But let me say this about using the telephone to keep in touch with friends.

America? Can you please find a better system?

You know what I am talking about. If your friend has nothing better to do or too many stories to tell, there's something about the phone that makes them forget that time exists at all.

Don't get my wrong. I'm a good friend. I don't mind talking to my friends, even though my half of the conversation is a half hour of 'uh-huh' and the occasional "no kidding!"

But how do you politely end it? That's the problem.

Again I love talking to them, I am not trying to ignore them, I love them, but what the world needs is some kind of nice way to let someone know that its time to end a phone call.

And I may have figured something out. The other day I was watching the Oscars, and I noticed (as many of you may have as well) that all the award recipients had an allotment of forty-five seconds to make an acceptance speech. Now, I am sure you've seen what I am about to describe on an awards show at one time or another.

If a person went over their time, the band would start playing a little something in the background. Nothing loud, usually just some tinkling on the piano to let them know it was time to wrap things up. The speaker would hastily finish his speech and leave the stage.

Bingooooooo!!!
There it is! AT&T*, wake up and smell the redial! *(At & T is a phone company)
How great would that be? Right there, next to the "mute" and "flash"
The 'wrap-it-up' button.

You're talking to friends. It is getting late.

Wouldn't the world be a happier place? :-)