In the era of constant communication, we often find ourselves bombarded with unwanted calls. While the telephone has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we connect, it has also opened the door to a new form of harassment. This is a tale of one such encounter, where an unexpected call turned into an amusing anecdote.
The week had been particularly hectic for my wife and me. We had managed to accomplish a lot by Thursday, and even found time to enjoy a delightful lunch with a dear friend. As we drove home, I confessed to my wife that I was feeling quite exhausted and could use a power nap. Being the understanding partner she is, she encouraged me to rest.
I settled into my easy chair, ready to drift off into a peaceful slumber. However, my tranquility was abruptly shattered by the shrill ring of the telephone. Despite my annoyance, I answered the call, not knowing who it might be or if it was important.
The call turned out to be from a health agency, offering solutions for pains I supposedly had. They even suggested that I qualified for a back brace to manage my non-existent back pain. Despite my repeated assurances that no one in my house was suffering from any pain, the caller persisted with his sales pitch.
Just as I was about to end the call, an idea struck me. I decided to play along and told the caller that I did have a pain that needed addressing. When he eagerly asked about the nature of my pain, I told him that I had a throbbing pain in my neck, caused by people like him disturbing my nap. The only cure, I added, was for him to stop calling me. With a click, he ended the call, and my 'pain' was instantly cured.
When my wife later asked why I looked so cheerful, I told her about my encounter with the persistent caller and how I had managed to get rid of my 'pain in the neck'. It reminded me of a favorite proverb, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones" (Proverbs 17:22). In a world filled with agitation, it's important to find humor in unexpected places and not let bitterness and anger take hold.
Learn more about dealing with unwanted calls from the Federal Trade Commission's guide. For more on the history of the telephone, visit the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
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