This Reminds Me

Archive for May 14th, 2010

I resisted getting an iPhone for one reason only – the cost.  Not the cost of the phone itself, but the recurring monthly data charge of $30.   Any mom will tell you – it’s not the one-time expenses that crush the budget.   It’s those recurring costs.  And since Keith – and later Rachel – had one I could borrow when needed, I told myself I didn’t need one.  And sure didn’t want to pay for it.

In March – spurred by a new job in AT&T – I broke down and bought one.

And I’m in love.  iLove.  How did I survive those years with my now constant-companion?!

Bad weather in San Antonio today.  Students at Lois’ high school were herded to the gym, where the power went out.  Think she was hinting to be picked up early?!  I love the iPhone’s qwerty keyboard – so much easier to text back, though I’m fond of one-word response.  My screensaver shot is of Hannah holding the cake she raffled off at our church’s Spring Fling, raising $57 for the women’s ministry.  I uploaded that picture to Facebook immediately.  The kids text me all the time.  And my Facebook posts have increased dramatically with the iPhone.

Since Rachel has an iPhone, too, her texts can contain pictures – like of Julia, whom she took out for breakfast this morning.

When I get on the bus in the morning, I check Facebook first thing.  Well, not really first, because I absolutely must play…….

Words with Friends is the most awesome application ever!  It’s sort of Scrabble-light.  The first of two times Rachel beat me, she sent me this screen shot.  What a snot.   Love, love, love this game.  I play with friends in Chicago, Tyler, Dallas, etc.

You know the CalmCoolConnected blog to which I contribute?  I recently sent them a video – of which this is a still shot -  of my shopping for pajamas for Julia.  She’s terribly picky about her clothes, and she wasn’t with me.  So I was taking pictures of the pajamas and emailing them home to Keith, who would show them to her.  I grabbed a woman, introduced myself and asked her to shoot the video on the Flip I carry in my purse (so I could hold my iPhone – otherwise, my iPhone could have shot it.)  I’m sure she thought I was nuts.  But she did it.    Many would think the videos better if I were 30, blond, slim and perky.  But – as a friend of mine used to say – “Real life ain’t this way.”

I could ramble on and on about my iPhone.  The House app I got last week – Lois and I love that show.  The K-Love app I was so proud of getting until Rachel showed me iheartradio with its hundreds of stations – so I got that one, too.  The Scramble game that Julia races to play.    The Disney Cover Styler that Hannah used to edit pictures – and make me laugh.  And, of course, Weather and Maps,  to which Keith wishes I paid more attention.

The real reason I love my iPhone is because of the people to whom it connects me.  Rachel.  Lois.  Hannah.  Julia.  Keith.  It helps me see them – their texts, their pictures, their attitudes, their strategies  – even when I’m not with them.   That virtual intimacy is worth way more than $30/month.

It’s iLove.

And it’s priceless.