By Wendy Cartwright

Guest columnist

I am a member of Generation X. I was born in 1979.

I remember when my family got our first telephone installed, but I was young enough that it hadn’t been a problem to not have one before. I remember televisions without remote controls that required an antenna, and I remember when we got cable.

I was fascinated by dial-up internet and meeting people from other places in text-only chat rooms with no fancy avatars. I’ve seen the abbreviation AI mean “American Indian,” “American Idol” and now, “Artificial Intelligence.”

I was fortunate, or unfortunate depending on your views, to receive my first cellphone in 1997. I was heading off to college, and my parents wanted me to have it to call home and in case of emergencies. There was nothing “smart” about this phone. It was a plastic shell with a pull-out antenna somewhat reminiscent of a child’s toy in construction.

My plan had free nights and weekends, but I had to be weary of roaming charges. I dialed home almost every night at 8:58 because if I waited until 9, the call wouldn’t go through.

So you see, I have seen the progression of communication technology firsthand. I’ve gone from having no phone to making calls from home to mobile calling. Today, I essentially carry a small computer with me everywhere I go that can do more than my actual computer.

In light of all of this, there is something that has always bothered me.

How many times have you been driving along and were forced to stop behind a vehicle because there was a second vehicle in the opposite lane, also stopped, so that the occupants could carry on a conversation? Of course, I’ve never seen this happen on a highway or major road, but it is a common occurrence on side streets and in rural areas.

I can remember being a kid in the back seat of my parents’ car when we were stopped in the road waiting for a “mobile” conversation to end. I would say, “Pull over and talk!” or “Go home and use the phone!”

With the ease and availability of communication technology today, it surprises me that I still see people blocking streets with their vehicles to talk. But as I reflect, this seems like a very Midwestern thing to do — to spend a few moments saying hello driver door to driver door.

Am I always in a hurry when I’m stopped like this? I seem to think so. Next time, I’ll try to remain calm and breathe. But … My smartphone has a timer and I’m setting it for 30 seconds.

Wendy Cartwright hails from the North Vernon area and has lived there most of her life. She is 43 years old. She has a love of sharing her thoughts on growing up in the Midwest and other stories from her life. She spends her days reading and writing in the home she shares with her husband and chihuahua. Send comments to [email protected].