My, how times have changed

[the Ferret]

The other day I took off for my daily ride. About a mile up the road I felt my left front pocket and noticed I didn't have my phone (always keep my phone on the left front pocket). Thought about going back and getting it but decided no biggie, I was just taking one of my normal 45-60 mile loops. As I was riding, I thought if something happened (1) my wife wouldn't know where I was as I have a tracker app in the phone so she knows where to find me if I run off the road, (2) if I broke down, I couldn't call any friends for help and if necessary (3) I couldn't call AAA for a tow back home or to the shop. Not having my phone was suddenly very disconcerting.

Now, I've been riding for 61 years, ridden thru all of the lower 48 states, 2 provinces in Canada and 5 countries in Europe. I've only had a phone maybe the last 10 years, and the tracker app maybe the last 5 or so. I never worried about being able to be found (I did have one of those orange tracker gizmos for a couple years but got tired of paying the yearly fee), or having to make an emergency call.  Now my world revolved around a cell phone.

Anyhow when I got home my wife was in a panic, was sure an Ohio Highway Patrolman was going to be coming down the driveway to tell her that I had been in an accident somewhere...and was given the stern warning not to ever leave without my phone again

My how times have changed.