Jul 18, 2016 3 min read

Two weeks ago, I lost a friend. This friend was with me through every event in my life for nearly six years. Daily, sometimes hourly, our relationship was in play. But then, one day, the reliability and consistency in our relationship flickered. It was like the energy was slowly draining from our connection.

People told me it was time to move on, but I didn’t want to hear it. I reminded them how long we were friends and they said sometimes that is not healthy for anyone involved. But I hung in there. I knew what loyalty was all about. We still did our thing, even if nobody else liked it.

But when she began falling asleep in the middle of our conversations, I finally had it. I reminded her about my years of loyalty and she couldn’t keep her eyes open. I told her how everyone else wanted me to throw her away like garbage years ago, but I stayed true. I got no response; it was as though she powered down.

So, with a heavy heart and a good bit of trepidation, I bought a new phone.

I survived all of these years without joining the smartphone movement. I was perfectly happy with a phone that dialed, hung up and sent texts using the QWERTY keyboard. Besides, at home, service isn’t strong enough to make or receive anything, so why should I pay extra?

However, the options for a plain phone are extremely limited these days, and I also refuse to pay a $40 “upgrade fee” for a phone that is more basic than the one I carried the past six years. (Don’t you think if I took a step backward, they should pay me?)

Alas, I got an iPhone. It has bells and whistles, games, internet and more features than any human could possibly enjoy, let alone require. It took me hours to figure out how to set it up enough that I could make a call.

My kids have been quite helpful, if a little haughty, about helping me figure out how the phone works. There have been several behind-my-back snickers (and a few out and out loud guffaws) over my single finger texting method, my ignorance over how to find the internet and my frustration with the complicated nature of this new phone.

However, no one has told me my phone is ridiculous lately. No one said they “can’t believe anyone still uses that type of phone” or asked if my phone is a toy that belongs to one of my kids. Nobody even joked “the museum called and wants their exhibit back” in almost two solid weeks.

Soon enough, I’ll have the phone worked out. I’m sure, about 10 seconds after I get it all down, this will be considered antiquated and outdated as well. But rest assured, my loyalty will remain as true, as it did to my last phone.

I can only hope this phone remains as functional for as long.