Free Association
I just read a tweet from Kate, Twitter compadre and inspiration. She had said, “mmmm… new phone smell…” It never occurred to me that she must’ve just purchased an iPhone or some such nifty gadget. The first thing that popped into my head was, “mmmm… old phone sound…” My next thought was, “I should post that to Twitter, and for full effect link out to a recording of the metal bell ringer in the old brown telephone that is attached to the wall of my groovy grad pad in “married housing” at Central Michigan University. ” So, I did… I got a friend to call the number and let it ring whilst I captured the distinctive sound of its nearly-forgotten ringer, then pushed it up on to the Web here (complete with full sustain and kids yelling in the background).
I’m infatuated with old stuff (no, I don’t “collect”) and I could spend hours perusing old photos on Shorpy, or reminiscing about my old black Western Electric rotary dial telephone with a handset so heavy you knew you were ON THE TELEPHONE, not to mention the bodily harm you could do with it…
Anyway, I have to laugh at myself because after going through all that (only about 10 minutes), and feeling so jolly about my clever sense of humor & warm connectedness with the day-to-day affairs of others, I realized that as in the story of Sonikcycle, I’m the only one who’d get it. Given the fleeting nature of Twittering, the intended recipient, Kate, probably didn’t even notice my so-called response, much less click out and listen to the ringer–even if she did, past experience would suggest that the full picture of this fanciful free association will remain concealed by the dark shadows of Web obscurity and the cryptic clips of tweets & twits.
Technorati Tags: western electric, telephone, twitter, kate, sonikcycle
September 16th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I’m eight years old, living with my grandfather in England (5 Fairhome Cres, Hayes Middlesex). His phone is located in an awkward alcove on the stairs leading to the top level of his brownstone. Run to it and risk bruised knees, walk to it and risk missing the call. The ringing echoes through the house and into the garden where I’m practicing the sacred ritual of dolly tea time. The sound carries with it a certain feeling of anticipation, a feeling that has fallen victim to customized ringtones and caller ID. My grandfather walks slowly to the phone, while I race towards it, gaining speed with each ring. We collide at the bottom of the stairs and he grips my shoulder. To my left is the persistent ringing of the phone, to my right is my grandfather trying to teach me the value of patience.
Twenty seven years later (egads), still freckled and pig-tailed, I recall that day and try to wait just one more ring before answering the phone. (Thanks for the memory.)
k
September 16th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Hey! Great story, Kate! Apparently, you not only caught that fleeting transmission on Twitter, but also managed to find your way out here… I am pleasantly surprised and so very pleased! I’m quite accustomed to entertaining myself, but it’s always nice to have folk drop in and sit for a bit
)>>>
September 16th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
The bell ringer, the children’s voices in the background, the visual of the phone on the wall of your “married housing” apartment…Now didn’t that all bring back such fond memories of the exact circumstances of 45 years ago in our married housing apartment. Funny how one little sound can bring back a vivid replay of an entire year’s experience.
September 17th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Hey! It’s The Mother! Sounds and smells are powerful memory triggers, indeed. I can’t help but feel like the familiarity of this place isn’t a function of the sensory input from when I was 2 years old living in this very complex – the images are gone, but our experience shows they may simply lie dormant until just the right sound or smell sets them off eh.
September 17th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
What am I? Chopped liver?
September 20th, 2007 at 12:09 am
Hehehe, I almost qualified that statement by including you, Esteban. However, since we so close, and because you a Sonikcycle syndic second to none, I feel as though this is your home, too ;o)>>>
September 24th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Well, thanks! I’ll be more careful about wiping my feet before coming in…
October 1st, 2007 at 7:14 am
I guess that means you should have your own key…. Have I told you I have commitment issues? And…um…just take your shoes off at the door eh.