After reading LA's post on

After reading LA's post on parents and cell phones I thought I might share this little ditty.

My parents are in Florida right now visiting their only grandchild. So I got a call from my folks house sitter this morning explaining that the furnace has quit (aside: it was 6:00am here, apparently time zones have no meaning in cases of life or death or furnace). She can't stay there and she's worried about pipes freezing etc. and she can't get a hold of my parents because my brothers number they left her with is his fax number, except I know that my brother doesn't have a fax number.

So first I call my brothers house - yes, he's left the fax machine hooked up to the main line. Next I call his cell and get some guy named Doug who has no idea who my brother is. Then I call the hotel but my parents are not registered there (they always, I mean ALWAYS stay there - why would they stay somewhere else?) Then I call my sister in DC. She's not home and her cell is the wrong number too. So I email her at work.

Then I call my folks cell phone but knew there was no point because they always keep it in the car. Turned off. And the car is in a garage in Michigan. Then I email my step dad. Because that's what he does on vacation. Checks his email several times a day.

20 minutes later I get a phone call from my mom.

Mom: Thanks honey. We got your email, we'll take care of it. But why didn't you call our cell phone?
Me: I did Mom. But isn't it in the car? In your garage? In Michigan?
Mom: Oh no, we brought it, but I guess it's not turned on. Joe? Is the cell phone turned on? Didn't we email you our itinerary?
Me: Nope.
Mom: Oh sorry I guess we forgot. Joe? We forgot to send her the itinerary!
Me: It's okay, I'm glad Joe brought his laptop.
Mom: Well, here's the number of the hotel in case you need it.
Me: Mom, you're leaving tomorrow.
Mom: I know, but just in case... Something could happen. Joe? Do you want to talk to MJ?
Joe: typing in the background No need - I'm replying to her email right now.

Which read:
Thanks for the notice. Sorry you had problems reaching us. You might want to call on our cell phone. Your Mother is chatting with you as I write this. EOM/jlb

What if this had been an actual emergency? Why is it we can't get a hold of each other except via email? Why do we change cell numbers and forget to tell each other? Why did my parents not send me the detailed 375MB .pdf of their itinerary like they always do?

Most importantly, why are my parents staying in a goddamn different hotel?!? Still not sure, but it turns out this hotel has free happy hour well cocktails. And as my mother pointed out... she could get used to Gordon's. Which confirms that yes, I am my mothers daughter.

On a completely unrelated note, comments are down - again. I'm migrating over to movable type but after slogging through the 13 pages of instructions, I'm a tad overwhelmed. Please stand by.