In a world where smartphones dominate, how often do we find ourselves dialling numbers from memory? Though the act of making phone calls has become increasingly rare, there are still those phone numbers that remain etched in our minds, evoking memories of a simpler time.
I remember one instance vividly. My smartphone had run out of battery, leaving me stranded at home without a means to contact a friend. Resorting to the old-fashioned landline, I dialled their number. When the call connected, I was greeted by a familiar voice exclaiming, “Wow, it’s been ages since someone called me on this line! Is my cell phone not working?”
Amused, I explained the situation, realizing that while we remembered each other’s home phone numbers, as he knew it was me calling him before I even spoke, we had long forgotten each other’s mobile numbers. It’s a testament to the convenience of modern technology that we no longer need to memorize numbers; a simple “Hey Google” or “Siri” command does the trick. With instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, phone calls have become even more obsolete.
But back in the days before mobile phones, dialling a number was the only way to communicate instantly. Each call was an adventure, fraught with the possibility of not getting through or encountering someone other than the intended recipient. The frustration of a busy signal or…
