I remember when my brother first got a cell phone. He was always sending text messages and it used to really irritate me. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why anyone would want to sit and type something out using teeny tiny buttons and a million fingerstrokes when you could just pick up the phone and call the person. When I got my phone, he started to text message me. At first I would just call him to see what he wanted. Then I started replying to his messages. It wasn't long before I found myself texting more than I was calling. It's quick, it avoids excessive chatter and prevents the need for a get off the phone excuse. Text messaging became a useful tool for me strictly for utilitarian reasons with one exception, my husband. Randy and I work opposite shifts. I work days, he works afternoons. This arrangement is great for childcare reasons but not so great for quality time, although some may argue that it insures a long and happy marriage! He and I rarely get any time to spend together and even less time to have deep conversations while gazing into each others eyes. Enter the text message. I have a new found love and respect for text messaging because it has single handed-ly brought Randy and I closer together. No matter where we are or what we are doing, we can stay in touch. It's private, it's silent and can be oh so exciting. We chat, we flirt, we declare our love. We send messages saying we miss each other, we type sweet nothings, we type the not so sweet nothings and we keep the fires burning even when we can't see each other face to face. After 18 years together, you might think we are past this sort of thing but text messaging has taken our relationship to a whole different level. We say things to each other that might sound ridiculous in every day conversation, but when typed onto a tiny screen, it's pure romance. No matter how my day is going, when I hear that little alert chiming, my heart skips a beat and I smile before I even read the message. Sometimes it's a romantic something, sometimes he just needs to know where the baby's shoes are but he's there...with me...all day. Sometimes he will even send me a picture...but that's a whole different blog!
