I have an iPhone 8 that is on its last leg so I’ve had to get a new phone. The day it bit the dust I really felt like my arm had been cut off. Isn’t it strange how much we get used to using them?
It turned out to only be a charging cord issue but it’s still time to get a new one. I use mine in my job as well as for personal reasons, especially during the past year of social distancing. I probably rely on it too much and I’m sure I’m not alone.
Last year I wrote a column correctly predicting that we would be “celebrating” the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 and here we are.
In The Reporter one year ago, Judge Steve Young wrote in his column that there was no COVID-19 reported in Milam County dated March 12, 2020.
Meanwhile, that same week I was chasing Maddy Moody around the golf course trying to get a photo of her in 29 degree weather. We were social distancing but not yet wearing masks.
We all know what Judge Young said didn’t last long. One year later we’ve had a whole lot of cases and, sadly, 40 deaths.
At least we have toilet paper this go round.
I ran across an interesting article regarding a study that was done about people’s cell phone usage being way up after a year of social distancing, and I know mine has been. Another reason it’s time to get a new phone.
Thirty-nine percent said they had used their phone more often over the past year, and I’m surprised that number isn’t higher.
One third of respondents said they are cleaning their phone daily and another third weekly. The other third said they didn’t clean it at all. I admit that I was very meticulous about it at first but I have tapered off over the past year.
I’ve always had a bit of an OCD issue with hand washing so that hasn’t changed for me.
I do not enjoy video calling, but I have two friends who love it, so unfortunately I’ve been doing more of it. Thirty two percent in this study said they are using it more as well.
Another 36% said they are using social media more and that’s also true for me.
And 23% said they are using shopping apps more. I have used Amazon several times during the past year but I don’t have any shopping apps on my phone. And that is probably a good thing.
I went to the Verizon store in Pflugerville/Hutto on Saturday, and I swear buying a new phone takes as long as it does to buy a new car these days. And boy they really want to talk you out of whatever phone you went in there to buy and sell you something more expensive.
Which is exactly what happened to me.
I went in for an iPhone 11 but ended up getting a 12 instead. But I love it so everything worked out just fine. They were masked up and only letting a few people in the store at a time, so I got lucky that they weren’t too busy.
Did anyone else think we’d still have COVID-19 around a year later?
One friend told me she would never in a million years have thought we’d still be dealing with this virus. Another friend told me he predicted it too and isn’t surprised.
Whether you’re surprised or not it’s still here.
The vaccination news feels promising to me. I feel a little more hopeful about things with so many getting their shots. I do feel it’s a little early to be lifting the mask mandate, but in the same breath the governor said we should still wear them.
I do feel like there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel and I hope you do too.
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