Jill's Journal: Once again, I played the ‘Where’s Jill’s phone’ game

I think I’m starting to fall back in love with a treasure from the past: Landline telephones, more specifically, landline phones that were attached to a wall with a phone cord that took you to rooms well beyond the wall it was hanging on.

You may be scratching your head and wondering just why in tarnation I’d want to take a step – no, more of a giant leap – backwards. But here’s the deal: I have a tendency to leave my cell phone at places where I’ve been, only to realize hours, sometimes the next day, my phone is MIA.   

Take late last year for example. With our Brandon Valley Lynx scheduled to play O’Gorman in football on a Saturday, I decided since I was on that side of the city, I’d make a quick stop at JC Penney in the mall before the game to redeem some Penney’s cash that was about to expire. Honestly, it was a great idea, that is, until later that night when I discovered my phone was not in my possession. It required me to put on my sleuth hat, rethink where I’d been and when I had last used it.

It didn’t take me long for this Nancy Drew to solve the mystery, as I remembered my phone was like a hot potato at the store, as it was handed off to the clerk and back to me multiple times due to a snafu with my store account that wasn’t cooperating with the free store cash that was clearly “in the bank.”

On Sunday morning, after church and using a friend’s phone, I dialed my number, and in the spirit of the place and the day – Hallelujah! A Penney’s employee answered. Within the hour, my phone was back in my possession.

I’ve misplaced my phone numerous times over the years, like on the bleachers at an away basketball game. Believing the phone belonged to a Lynx fan, fortunately, our high school principal Mark Schlekeway grabbed it and answered it when it rang. Within minutes, I met him at the high school, and once again, my phone was back in my possession.

I ‘ve also left it on one of the cheerleader’s wooden boxes in the stadium one night while sharing time on the sidelines of soccer games and a volleyball match. Fortunately, one of our friendly custodians guided me through the darkness of a fall night to retrieve my phone that – you guessed it – was right where I left it.

And so, last Tuesday, as I drove away from a longer-than-usual Valley Springs City Commission meeting, I was eager to get home and call a friend who was awaiting a call from me. And that’s when the search began. I cleaned out my car. I cleared out my computer bag and my purse, too. Twice, just to make sure.

My next step was to pick up my landline – albeit cordless – and I dialed up one of my “go-to” people in Valley Springs: Ardell Johnson. She graciously offered to head back to the Legion, where the meetings are held, only to learn that Tabitha, the town’s City Finance Officer, took it home with her for safe keeping.

That’s the information that Ardell was doing her best to give me. But my landline wasn’t cooperating. Ardell called. I answered, and my phone, well, it had other ideas: Low battery.

Low battery? On a phone that rarely leaves the charging station?

So, back to Valley Springs I went, steering the Buick into the Johnson’s driveway, to learn the whereabouts of just where my phone may be. Of course, acting as the town’s unofficial “Welcome Wagon,” Ardell directed me to Tabitha’s home. Fortunately, her directions were precise – and uncomplicated.

Tabitha’s husband greeted me outside and told me how he’d “lost” his wallet for three days as he led me to Tabitha and my phone. We agreed that a wallet and a phone are tough to lose and multiple headaches to replace.

As I drove home, I drove home, it occurred to me that my phone has apparently seen more of Sioux Metro area than some tourists. It’s been to department stores, football games, basketball games, soccer matches, volleyball contests and city commission meetings. Frankly, it gets around.

I’ve also come to realize that somewhere along the way, I’ve unintentionally assembled an impressive “Find Jill’s Phone Committee.” Membership includes a department store employee, a high school principal, a school custodian, Ardell Johnson, Tabitha and, I’m sure, a few others I’ve forgotten. (Unlike my phone, I hope they don’t take that personally.)

So, if you happen to spot a lonely cell phone sitting on a counter, a bleacher, a press table or the hood of a Buick, don’t panic. There’s a good chance it’s mine.

Just answer it when it rings.

I’ll be the one calling ... from my landline