Playing the Phone Card

Phone calls home are an unexpected hassle, and I don't just mean the time difference. In the world of one click options back in the states, what a soldier goes through to touch base with a loved one would be considered completely unacceptable.

1. After waiting for your turn, first there's the military's number that you dial to use a phone card. This number may or may not work, half the time it doesn't.

2. Next You dial the phone card's 800 number, this may or may not connect.

3. Next the phone card code, which is temperamental and will discontinue if you're too slow punching it in, and if you hit a wrong button you must start over.

4. Then after prompts, the phone number back home which often will ring as if dialing several times, and you think you're waiting for someone to answer when the recording comes on, "your call cannot be completed at this time."

This process usually takes place with someone standing near by waiting for their turn, giving the caller little privacy, and all with a looming possibility that the power will go out.

This is why I often sound aggravated mom. It's not you. But then the calls home always have a delay effect like on newscasts with overseas reporters. Often a bad scratchy connection too making conversations difficult.

Then often turns into a checklist interview:

"How are you?"
"How are you really doing though?"
"Did you get __ that I sent?
"Have you talked to __ lately?"
"Didn't you get my last e-mail?"
"What can we send you next package?"
"What do you need though?"

and so on and so forth.

I often feel frustrated when I'm done, realizing that I really didn't have a real conversation at all. Often I'm asked for the juicy bits of info which I can't talk about over the phone and wouldn't want to worry loved ones with anyway.

So, I guess I'm writing this to sort out my own frustration, to apologize, and share the experience, perhaps, with other's who know what I mean as they've been in the same position, either over here, or over there. And also...Happy Thanksgiving.