Texting in the Rain

She walked alone, head down, eyes intent on the illuminated screen in her left hand. Her steps were slow, though hardly deliberate. It’s a wonder she didn’t stumble on the uneven bricks she trod. Maybe she glanced occasionally away from the text in her palm to check the path, unnoticed by my casual observation.

Not my photo. It illustrated this CNN story about texting.

It was raining.

Late September rains can be warm like a summer shower or cold like a Halloween drizzle. The rain in which the texting girl walked was closer to the former, though it bordered on the latter. My middle-aged mind wants to think it must have been a pretty important message to occupy her attention the way it did, in the rain, on a wavy brick walk, at risk of ruining a phone or inciting a face-plant. But as the father of three girls, I know my logic doesn’t apply in such matters.

I suppose it’s not just teens and twenty-somethings who text without consideration of surrounding conditions. Many of us feel compelled to respond immediately to a text, now that we have that sense of constant connectivity (false though it may be). Most people have enough sense not to fiddle with their phone in the midst of a business meeting (job security trumps common courtesy, however). But many of us don’t hesitate to check texts or emails or Web feeds while in company at lunch or with family or friends or when walking blindly in the rain.

I admire those who refrain, exercise some restraint in matters of connectivity. I tend to lean that way myself, though I’ll sometimes model my behavior depending on the company I keep. Or, if I am with company but recently removed from my shift at work, I’ll check that buzz in my pocket in case it’s work-related, which at such times it usually is. If, however, it is not work, the phone goes back in my pocket without response.

Also not my photo. Just liked the dude
biking and texting. Well, not his carelessnes.

Wow, that spun out of control. This all started because I really did see a girl texting in the rain while I was biking one day last month. Plenty to say about texting in all sorts of situations. Or, beyond texting, about checking Web updates and emails and Instagram while walking, driving, biking, visiting with friends and family. Maybe I’ll delve into more later. I was gonna be not so clever and say I have to go send a couple texts. Actually I have to make lunch and go to work.

Today's Stats

Temp: 47 degrees F

Distance: 3.5 miles

Weekly Total: 8.5 miles

Treasure:

iPod Playlist (On Shuffle):

He’s the GreatestDancer – Sister Sledge

Everything She Wants – Wham!

Captain Jack – Billy Joel

Mother (Live) – Sinead O’ Connor & The Band

Talking in Your Sleep – Romantics (Great hair, guys)

I Hung My Head – Sting

Nightshift – Commodores

Head Over Heels – GoGo’s

Better Be Good to Me – Tina Turner