There are four people on our phone plan, including my grown son. Last week I called him to let him know we were getting ready to change carriers so we could have better wireless service as we travel.

As it turns out, it takes just as long to accomplish this, as to buy a new car.

By the time we changed our carrier and replaced all four phones, I hadn’t heard back from him. Since his phone no longer worked, I had no way to contact him and no way to make arrangements to bring him his new phone. Most importantly, I realized I didn’t even know his cell number! Why would I need to? It was right there in my phone. Quick, what is your partner’s phone number? Your best friend’s? Your sister’s?

Albert Einstein was once asked, “Do you know your own phone number?” His reply was, “Never memorize something you can look up.”

At this stage of our technological growth, few people memorize cellphone numbers. If you were to lose your phone, or it died and lost all of it’s data, who would you be able to contact?

I’m thinking we should combine both high and low tech for our peace of mind. My solution: back to the future with a “girl’s best friend…”  Her Little Black Book!

Think about going old school with a purse-sized leather phone book. It doesn’t necessarily have to be black. Include those friends that would stop whatever they were doing, roll up their sleeves and help with whatever you needed… which could include bailing you out of jail, or at least baking an exquisite chocolate cake with a file in it!

XO