Cell Saga or Letting Go

I say goodbye to a trusted friend. Some people go out and buy whatever is new on the market. Not me. If I can make and receive calls, I'm okay. This story starts about two years ago.

My Phone Pleads with me
There I was, noticing that my talking/calling time was getting shorter and shorter. Until finally, I could not talk without being plugged into the car. "No big deal, my cell phone said, I just need a new battery." Well after three days of searching, everyone said, "your phone is old." Finally my phone pleaded with me to try Radio Shack. "Sure, they said." but we have to order one and it will take a week. I went for it, probably spending more than I would on a new phone. One day it arrived, I was happy, my cell phone was happy, the birds sang and life was great.

Fast forward about a year...

My Cell Phone is Middle Age
You see, phones are like dogs. For each human year, they age seven. Finally my phone, which barely had a "1", "2" or "send" button left on it from speed dialing asked me let it retire. Being selfish, I dismissed it. One day when I was talking the battery just fell out. A piece to hold it in had broken off. I like to fix things so I duct taped the edges, holding in the battery. I carefully replaced the "bandage" every couple of days. Worked great -- sort of -- well enough. We had quarrels, but who doesn't.

My Cell Phone is Old
One day, the duck tape stopped working and my phone said, "I'm just too old to for this." Glue I said. I knew that gluing the battery in place, would make the phones life time that of the "permanent' battery. But what the heck. So I carefully glued the battery in place. Every time I used the phone I got the smell of glue. But I could deal with that.

Asparagus
After about six months, the battery would slip from the glue ever so slightly. Off the phone went. Our asparagus from the local grocery store always comes wrapped with two rubber bands per bundle. So with the glue and a tightly wrapped rubber band, I held the battery in place. Yes, yes., I had trouble seeing the numbers, but so what.

The time comes
After three months of rubber band, it was time. My battery was dying again, it was glued into place, made tight enough by rubber bands and I could speak for a whole minute before having to recharge.

I went shopping, found a wonderful phone, same functions except I decided to get more minutes, texting and I can take pictures. It's smaller, slimmer and more up to date.

I was told it would be three hours before I could make calls. My phone told me it had had a good life and would hang on three more hours.

In Retirement
So. The new phone works, the old is in a retirement. I suspect is will keep me company until one day it's battery just gives up and it goes to place cell phones go to die. It thanked me for a good life; and hopefully we will see each other again. I just hope nobody duct tapes, glues and rubber bands me when the time comes. I've learned a lesson: when you love something, sometimes its best to let it go.

Ode to a cell phone
Cell, you tried to tell me
But the stubborn guy was selfish
Hopefully your resting now
I give you a final bow and say thanks
As we say goodbye, as you fade away
You're happy for me now
I'm happy for you now
And we can all rest, it's a different day.