Tuesday afternoon, I walked through the cold, wind and rain to have an extremely important meeting with my advisor. I was running a few minutes late, so I was rushing through the parking lot, checking my phone every few steps. Apparently, I thought the parameters of time had changed and we were measuring in steps, not minutes.
There’s something extremely important you should know about me. I am terribly clumsy. In fact, my family called me “spill queen” until I was 13. My dad still brings up my old nickname, I hate it.
Between the bad weather, running late and my lack of grace, my Tuesday was destroyed when I felt my phone fly out of my hand and fall into a puddle. I have an old iPhone, so there wasn’t really much that I could do besides shut it off and head upstairs to my meeting.
Before I even got to my professors office, I heard my peers whispering to each other: “Sweet, Tucci’s sick.  No class.” But no, this couldn’t be true. I had just walked through the pouring rain with some hand-me-down umbrella. My feet were soaked. I ruined my phone, for crying out loud. I made my way to his office and there it was. The sign on his door confirmed that he was home sick. Not only was I genuinely pissed at my bad luck, but I was also without a phone. I felt naked and exposed. I hurried home where I took my phone apart and let it dry. There was nothing left to do now except pray that my phone survived the mishap. It didn’t.
While wishing and waiting, I paced throughout my house worrying and whining about my poor phone, and poor me. I couldn’t fathom a few days without it. I coach a high school cheer team, so I have 24 teenagers and their parents contacting me day and night. I also have a family to worry about. For some reason they think that I should be able to answer my phone at any time, no matter the situation.  My phone also allows me to change my work schedule as a server. As a college student with three jobs, this is important for me to keep track of. Sometimes I’ll give a shift up just because I need a break from everything.
Long story short, my phone is my lifeline. I’ve been without it for six days now and it’s just been awful. I can’t even pretend that it’s been a great experience where I realize I need to spend less time with technology and more time enjoying life. Technology makes my life easier on every level.
What can I say? I’m a product of my generation. I need my Facebook app. I need to be able to text someone on my way to class. I NEED Sudoku ready to go whenever I’m feeling the slightest bit bored. I’m aware of how pathetic this is, but it’s who we are all becoming. Don’t try to claim that you’re not. Remember back to the last time you were without your phone. I’m sure you absolutely hated it.
No one likes to admit his or her addictions, but I will.  I’m Katie Goddeyne and I am addicted to my phone.

kgoddeyne@mavs.coloradomesa.edu