Ma Bell

Courtesy of Pixabay

Some may not remember the original telephone company, Bell Telephone.  The splits and breakups occurred and more and more names of phone companies came into the headlines.  Those were the days when each long distance phone call had a price.  It was cheaper to call on the weekends and after 9 p.m. 

There were times I would call home, not wanting much of anything, and just wanted to hear mom's voice.  Of course, those days were long before the computer, internet and cell phones, even if I do not want to admit that I am no longer an eighteen year old!  Once she out rightly asked if I was homesick.  I denied it but she knew!

My mom was famous for informing me of the cost, especially if I called on a day other than a Saturday or Sunday.  Then dad died as well as a couple of her friends.  One day she called me on a Monday, of all things.  This was very unusual for her, and she really did not have much to say. 

I played my mother with her and told her that it was not prime time to call and wondered why she was calling on Monday.  She simply said she was "reaching out to touch someone!"  That was their advertising catchphrase. I bet many of you do remember it!

So, Ma Bell was way ahead of this pandemic curve.  That catch phrase is most pertinent now. It works and helps us all to stay connected.  It's not the end of the world but we need to live in some very basic ways for now. Maybe you'd even want to make a call.  Thank you, Ma Bell, for helping us take good care of one another by "reaching out to touch someone!"