How Do I Breathe?

I have LeeAnn Rimes in my head today:

How do I get through one night without you
If I had to live without you
What kind of life would that be
Oh I, I need you in my arms Need you to hold
You're my world, my heart, my soul
If you ever leave
Baby you would take away everything good in my life
And tell me now

How do I live without you
I want to know
How do I breathe without you
If you ever go
How do I ever, ever survive
How do I How do I Oh, how do I live

She's been there since yesterday afternoon when I discovered that my cell phone was dead as a doornail, finished, kaput! Of course, I NEEDED it at that moment.

I was heading out to a meeting at a place I'd never been before. I printed out the directions from email just before I left work. The closer I got to my destination I began looking for the directions. I soon realized they were ON MY DESK. At work!

It's natural then to pick up the cell phone, admit to one of the sons that I'm a ditz sometimes and ask them to look in my email for the directions. But, said cell phone was out of juice.

I drove into the subdivision where I was supposed to be. I remembered the number to open the gate, but not the house number. I thought perhaps if I drove down the street I'd be "led" to the right house. But...NOTHING. And I really didn't want to do a door to door scavenger hunt to find the right place.

So, I headed out to find a pay phone. I can't remember the last time I looked for one. And quite honestly I was thinking the only place I might find one is in an antique shop! Suddenly, I saw it on the side of the local drug store. I got out with TWO quarters just in case the FIRST one didn't work. I mean my Mother did teach me to be prepared!

I walked up to that antiquated piece of technology and put in my quarter and dialed only to be met on the other end with a voice that said, "Please deposit twenty-five cents." I told my computer phone-a-friend that I DID put in twenty-five cents...but went ahead and threw the other quarter in for good measure. That's when I saw that the cost for a local call is now FIFTY cents! I found myself longing for my childhood when this would have cost me a DIME!

Even after receiving the other quarter, the computer continued her mantra, "Please deposit twenty-five cents." I hit the coin return. Got both quarters out and tried again. She just kept talking to me.

Frustrated and now 30 minutes LATE for my meeting, I went into the drugstore and asked for a phone book. I guess THAT also belongs in the antique store, because there wasn't one to be found. The nice lady at the photo desk, though, let me call home to ask for help. I think she wanted to see me admit to my teenage son that I AM a ditz!

DS 2 came through for me and found the address. And all the way back to the house, I found myself eyeing my dead cell phone and singing: "How DO I live without you? I want to know. How do I BREATHE without you? If you ever go. How do I e-ver, e-ver SURVIVE? How do I..How do I...oh how do I BREATHE?"