Just Another Number

Do you feel like you’re just another number in a sea of people with no names? Besides your social security number, you have an account number for everything. Your bank knows you by a number and won’t even talk to you ‘til you give it to them. The same with utility, telephone, and it goes on and on.

Some telephone calling cards use up to 39 numbers before you hear a human voice, if you’re lucky enough to get an answer. If you happen to hit just one wrong number, you have to start all over. It’s exhausting and so impersonal.

I remember when all I had to do was just tell the operator to ring my daddy’s office. In fact, it was so easy that when I turned 5 years of age I wanted to have a birthday party, so I just told the operator to ring everybody in town so I could invite them. I could see lots of presents coming, until she called my mother who was working in my dad’s office that day and told her I was inviting every person in Dawson, Ga. to a party. I believe I do remember sitting on a cushion at my party.

I still remember our telephone number was 155 and the Power Company office, where my dad was the manager, was 384. My best friend’s was 212. Boy, life was a lot simpler then.