TWO Year Anniversary with the "Dinosaur"
“What’d you do to get that?” he said pointing at my phone resting in my hand’s suffocating grip, as if anyone would steal that dinosaur of a phone. I get asked this question frequently when my phone comes up in conversation. Commonly from people who cannot seem to wrap their small-minded naive brains around the numerous possible reasons to not have an iPhone. It’s okay though, they just haven’t adjusted to the slight possibility of encountering the 1% of the world that doesn’t own an iPhone. I am in fact part of that 1% of people who own a flip phone, only difference is that mine is by choice. That’s right, the good ole phone that slides and has everyone’s favorite game of Uno. The phone you possessed when your 7-year-old self-thought you were the absolute coolest kid on the block walking around with that beautiful Verizon LG black piece of machinery. You know the one, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you clearly didn’t have a very eventful childhood full of Tetris games and Uno battles.
“It’s by choice,” I say confidently. Mouths drop, and eyes grow big. This is the typical expression I receive after answering this simple question. My answer seems to present more and more questions, I guess people are inflamed with curiosity. I don’t judge them, If I were in there position I would be a little confused too.
75% of the people I encounter had owned the dinosaur at one point during their childhood. I must admit I am thoroughly impressed with these individual’s ability to operate the phone. When people ask to see the dinosaur, I immediately respond “of course” and allow them to relive their childhood for just thirty seconds. I find it very impressive how these individuals navigate to the games application or text themselves. I enjoy watching their facial expressions as they go through amnesia holding the tiny device in their hands like they did all those years ago. Only difference is that their hands have most likely grown three sizes bigger, and that this dinosaur isn’t there’s anymore. No, instead they are stuck with the brand-new iPhone 15 or whatever number apple is on now. I swear two years ago, apple had released the seemingly large iPhone 6 and now people are walking around with phones the size of iPads. It’s crazy how times have changed.
“So, you have always had one?” Is the second question I get asked. Is it that hard to believe that I purchased a flip phone after having an iPhone? No, my childhood was not filled with Uno games or the loud clicking noise that the keyboard makes. Instead I grew up being exposed to the iPhone era at a young age. I had never encountered the beautiful noise the dinosaur makes when it slides open, or the delicate texture the keys have on my fingers. I wasn’t always a technology freak, or a iPhone police, or a 2000s nerd, I used to be cool I swear. I had the whole look of a teenager. Staring at my iPhone while I avoided making awkward eye contact with the boy in my grade two chairs over. Sipping the last remains of my cotton candy frape from Starbucks while bundled up in my extra extra-large hoodie. I had the look, but I lost it almost two years ago. Now I resemble a "middle age woman trapped in the body of a seventeen-year-old” or at least that’s what my friends think.
So no, I haven’t always owned a flip phone. Two years ago I didn’t even know those dinosaurs still existed. Yet, here I am. Two years later, and I’m a whole new person all because of that dinosaur.
Yesterday I reached my two year mark with my flip phone. Wow, time has truly gone by fast. It felt like just yesterday when my dad was making a 30$ bet that I wouldn't keep my flip phone for more than 3 months. Yet, here we are, 24 months later and still 30$ short, thanks dad.
My original goal for my spontaneous purchase I made 2 years ago, was primarily for myself. High school along with extracurricular can be a busy and stressful time. I remember being completely overwhelmed by schoolwork and even my social life, and was therefore in need of a desperate change. When my phone broke, I (without putting much thought into it) immediately purchased the stone-age piece of technology that resided in the desolate corner of Verizon.
After a year of owning my "dinosaur" my goal had shifted. I had already successfully made an massive change in my life, and it was time to help others with the same ambitions. I strive to tell my story as well inspire others to limit their cell phone usage and instead live in the moment. Two years later and I can confidently say I have truly implemented a change in other's lives and that's all I could ever ask for. So ode to my flip phone for 2 years, and many more to come!
