"I confess: I am a real phone-y."

For the last 22 hours and 33 minutes and...26,27,28 seconds I am feeling withdrawn. Isolated. Hung up. I left my telephone on the seat of my mother's car at the Dallas airport. 

I panicked when it hit me in the security line. My first instinct was to try and call my sister to have her bring it back to me at the curb: FIRST sympton of Delusional User Hypertension syndrome, aka DUH. I then pulled it back together, looked down at Bentley who was giving me that "Oh, here he goes" look from his rolling pet carrier (black, sleek and european looking, of course), and said to him, "Well, it looks like I'm screwed. Another senior moment, Bentley."

No answer. SECOND symptom of Distractional User Malady Bipolarization syndrome, aka DUMB.

I had a momentary reprieve as I sent all my stuff through the xray. IMPORTANT NOTE TO READER: I did not send Bentley through the xray. He is carried in a flying position, extended in front of me so as to not hit the walls (they get cranky when you do that); he looks a lot like a German version of Underdog). I evaluated the situation, considered the calls I was supposed to make, the emails, the real time IMing, Facebook updates, tweets and all the ways I am able to be in touch and connected and available and relevant to our social movement movements. Maturely embracing the reality that I was totally unable to do anything about the situation (after the nervous shivering frantic sweat on my forehead began to dry), I took a deep sigh. THIRD symptom of Fear Releaseation Emotional Escape syndrome, aka FREE.

Have I mentioned that my favorite passage from the Bible is Exodus 14:14? Your God will fight for you. You need only be still.

So, I wondered...and found this out about global cell phone usage:

89% said they’ve used a cell phone. (86% for personal calls, 3% for business, and 9% for both)

69% feel safe when they have their cell phone with them.

38% have stopped using their landline 

66% - One cell phone
28% - Two cell phones
6% - Three or more cell phones

50% have flirted via text
21% have flirted in France & 86% in Portugal!

86% of the world feels its unacceptable to break up via text
8% of Italians say that it’s fine and they’ve done it

42% Yes as to negative impact of cell phone usage

47% No as to negative impact of cell phone usage
11% Don’t know 

Only 1% own iPhones, yet 25% would like one in the world (53% in U.S.)

Daily Usage?
63% for calls
57% for text messaging
44% for alarm
22% for calendar
12% for music player
10% for camera
9% for Bluetooth
7% for games

Whew, that is a lot of statistics!

So, the outcome for me? Read for four hours. Wrote. Writing. Thought. Prayed. Walked with Bentley around a lake. Listened to music. Considered. Reflected how joyful I feel about my family, friends (beyond Facebook and Tiwtter). Watching Bentley sun bathe. Did all this in total silence. Took time to be still.

So, what's real? Maybe we should try an experiment: leave your phone behind for 24 hours. Hide it. Disconnect it. Lose it. Maybe you, like me, will find some things you may have really lost. 

Outside my 5th floor perch I just noticed the FedEx truck. My sister sent my phone. It is likely on that truck. I think I should go down and get it.

Nah.

For emphasis - (b)