THE NEVER ENDING WIRELESS CHAT

It amazes me to think of the kazillion people who are on-line every single minute of every single hour of every single day. If not emailing, they’re searching for information or stories from everywhere in the world, or indulging in one of the “social media” sites. But it isn’t the sheer numbers of people participating at one time that amazes me. It is that so many are communicating not with people they know, but people they have met via the internet, while children and husbands and wives who are sitting somewhere within the striking distance of a spitball more than likely haven’t said more than 10 words to each other in twenty-four hours!

The communication era of America. Yes, we’re all computer hooked up and cell phone wired, yet when was the last time you dropped the phone, drove over and actually conversed with your 75-year-old mother or father or dear Aunt Mabel? I am so appreciative of not having texting available when we were rearing our children, especially when they were teenagers. Had it not been for facial expressions, raised eyebrows and certainly the tone of my voice or their dad’s voice when we made the final “NO” command, I’m positive a lot more shenanigans would have been attempted by our two children. We didn’t use the “read my lips” warning; we didn’t have to. All either of our children needed to do was glance at the expression on one or both of our faces. One glance, and they knew without either of us saying a word. I am not someone who enjoys ending phone calls badly. My fear is worrying about having said something too harsh or critical and then never seeing the person again before something awful befalls one of us. I am a true believer in “Murphy’s law” because I’ve lived through too many scenarios that would have aptly been deemed “Murphy-isms” — the type where you have barely missed the wall but just in time to realize you just fell off a 50-foot cliff.

What has happened to the art of discussion? That two-way street of exchanging sentences, when one person listens while the other speaks, and then the second person counters with a different thought or consideration? What’s ironic is how many of us claim to hate talking on phones, yet how many of us don’t have our cell phone within grabbing distance? Hey, I’m not pointing any fingers. I am nearly as guilty as everyone else. I say nearly because during the week I have my cell phone with me almost always; if not on me, at least in my car. But I don’t take my cell phone with me during the weekends.

Not if I’m with Ash, who seldom has his with him after work hours. The weekend is our time together.

If we didn’t do this, we’d have very little time together without interruption. If someone needs to reach me, I have voice mail, and when I get home I’ll get the message. Our son has scolded both of us numerous times about not knowing why we “even bother” to have cell phones when we never answer them. My answer? My cell phone is a business tool and one I use for convenience— my convenience.

So the next time you plan on going out to dinner or shopping or just for a ride in the country—try not taking your cell phone. Or, if you can’t manage to exit your driveway without it, make yourself a promise that you will not use it unless you have an emergency or you’ve just found out you won the Powerball lottery. I’ll bet most of you cannot do it. If I’m wrong, let me know. Just…don’t call to tell me!

TO PROTECT AND SERVE

A friend of mine sent me a copy of the letter she recently wrote to a Fargo detective thanking him for the investigative work he did that uncovered all the guilty parties in a high-level, cross-country scam.

My friend borrowed money from an organization several years ago and somehow the scam artists got my friend’s information and proceeded to malign her credit. Due to the patience and efforts of Fargo’s Detective Mark Voigtschild, the fraud investigation that he led included the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, the City of Buffalo Police Department, both North Dakota and New York Better Business Bureaus and few other agencies. Eventually Detective Voigtschild dug to the inner cesspool of creeps, exposed the bad guys, helped clear my friend’s credit rating and restored her good name. Now that’s what I call getting your taxpayers’ money’s worth. The ongoing and continual work of our police personnel is what few of us hear enough about. I’m happy to thank Detective Voigtschild in print for my friend, and she is forever grateful Detective Voigtschild is on the job.

APPLIANCE TURN – IN

Have you finally decided it’s high time to replace that old wattage waster and get a new stove, refrigerator, dishwasher or window air conditioner? GREAT! So instead of trying to figure out what to do with them, Moorhead Public Service has an answer to your “how or where do I get rid of this?” dilemma. As part of MPS’s energy efficiency program, MPS is offering several rebate incentive programs. All anyone needs to do is call MPS and they will arrange to have your older appliance picked up for free and hauled out of your basement or garage. From there, the appliance will go to a recycling company that disposes of them in an environmentally safe way.

There are two absolute requirements to qualify for the pickup and rebates: one is that the appliance must be in working order (a/c and refrigerators must still be able to “cool”) and be a minimum of 10 cubic feet in size; two is that you must be a Moorhead electric customer to be eligible to participate.

The recycling truck is expected to be in Moorhead the week of October 10. Anyone interested in having an appliance picked up should make an appointment by Friday, October 7 to be placed on the pick-up route. For more information go to: www.mpsutility.com.

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

I am going to be forming the questions for THE EXTRA’s edition covering the Moorhead City Council election. I would like to hear from Moorhead residents regarding what you want and expect from your City Council representatives, how you feel about Moorhead’s City government, and cuts you feel could be or should be taken to prevent higher property taxes. What would you first propose if you were on the Moorhead City Council? What is the city doing right? My email address is below. All questions and/or suggestions will remain confidential. This is YOUR city, people. The only way to change things is by participating!

For questions or responses email Soo at: sooasheim@aol. com or at asheimrote@aol.com

Right on the edge