Cell phones

I was looking out my window from my home office and noticed two teenage girls walking down the street. One was on her cell phone and the other one looked ignored. Which she was. Do you think the girl on the phone was taking an emergency message? Doubtful...few of us are.

I wonder when it became more important for us to talk on the phone than to talk to the person we're with? Probably when phones were first invented. It must have been such a big deal to get a phone call that everybody then stopped to find out what the important call was about.

Little by little, the phone ringing caused us to drop everything to answer it. We've made rudely interrupting the person we're talking to seem normal which anything does if you do it often enough. Maybe it's time to rethink our phone behavior.

What are we talking about so much on our cell phones anyway? Is the call really important? Important enough to ignore the friend or family member we're with? Something to think about in this era of people having low self esteem and seeking attention.

Maybe we need to spend the time with the person we're with...let the cell phone grab the message...and get back to the caller when we're done with our inperson conversation. Imagine how good that could make people feel?

Pay it forward! We could all use a little common courtesy and respect!

Loyalty...and your word

We're responsible for what we do or say. Sure it's a free country but what we do has consequences and it's worth thinking about the effect of what we say or do. I was thinking of that today as I watched the first Red Sox - Yankee game of the season. Whether you're a baseball fan or not, there were a lot of lessons in the game. You see this was the first game that former Red Sox hero Johnny Damon returned to Fenway Park as a member of the New York Yankees - the arch rival of the Red Sox.

It's not so much that he switched teams. It was what he said before he did it. A year ago he said he would never play for the Yankees and would never let money influence his decision. Fact is, he did just that. He turned down the Red Sox offer of $40 million for 4 years of work and took the Yankees offer of $52 million. Hmmm....seems like he contradicted himself big time.

Now I know that sports is a business and that people go for the money. It was his choice and we Red Sox fans have to accept that. But Mr. Damon also thought that he would be cheered when he came to Boston. Yes, he helped the team win the World Series in 2004. But he turned his back on his team and his fans for money, saying he wasn't wanted by the Sox and that he needed the money for his children. Wouldn't you feel wanted if someone offered you $40 million? As for the kids needing the money, what about the families with kids struggling to afford tickets to one game which are so expensive because we pay so much for players like Damon?

What you say matters. Loyalty and teamwork matter. The money is all well and good but who are you if your word can't be believed? Something to think about whether you're into baseball or not. Red Sox fan or Yankee. Your word is all.