Cell phoneitus...

By Lonnie Cruse


Picture on left is the side of the Super Museum with a fake telephone booth. And yes, that's me posing as a super hero. Anything for the camera.

It's a wonder to me that everyone, including me, doesn't have missing, or at the very least, mangled ears from constantly holding a cell phone against the sides of our heads. I even know people who have the kind that actually hook ONTO the ear, like a hearing aide, so they walk around looking like they have a huge black roach attached to their ears. Ewww.

Practically ever single person shopping in the huge discount stores or grocery stores are chatting to someone. It's like we can't go for five minutes without conversation. Anywhere. I felt really sorry for an older lady I spotted in a restaurant a while back, eating her dinner in silence because her younger male companion chatted on the phone from the time they arrived, throughout the meal, and was still at it as we left. I'm assuming he was her son, but it struck me as a bit rude. Couldn't he chat with HER through the meal and call the person back when he was alone? Sigh.

Of course, I'm a child of the 50's and our home phone back then was firmly attached to the wall in the dining room which was right behind and fully open to the living room. So my parents could hear every single word. And that did get me into trouble, more than once. When hubby and I got our first house, in the 60's, our phone was in the kitchen, with possibly the longest cord in history, which allowed me to work in the kitchen and even reach part of the living room to sit down and chat. Of course, our sons always got *just out of reach* of the cord, so while I could threaten, I couldn't actually touch them while they wrestled each other or bounced on the couch. Luckily, it was vinyl. Where was I?

Growing up, I never dreamed of cordless phones, much less cell phones which gave users the ability to talk in the grocery store OR the car, while on a trip. I do love that. I confess, though, I once put the cordless phone down and couldn't find it. Pressed the handy little locater button, but no sound to lead me to it. Then I looked out the window. I'd left the receiver on top of the dog's house when I fed her. She didn't bother to answer the phone. Probably knew the call wasn't for her.

Last Tuesday was sort of the "be all, end all" cell phone spotting for me. We took our grandsons to the waterfall at Ferne Clyffe State Park (Southern Illinois, if you are ever in our area, check it out.) The boys climbed around, over, and under the rocks while Grandpa supervised from a safe distance and I sat on a nearby bench and enjoyed a good book and the lovely scenery. From time to time other visitors sauntered up to where we were, admiring the scenery. One group of teens included a young man chatting on his cell phone, informing the listener that he was at the waterfall. Which tells me there is now no place that is cell phone free except certain hospital areas, and people have been known to sneak them in there. And where was my cell phone while we admired the flora and fauna at Ferne Clyffe, you ask? In my pocket, of course! You didn't think I was dumb enough to take a hike in the woods without it, did you?

But I do have to wonder what kind of society we've evolved into, when you rarely see anyone without a cell phone tucked into the ear and/or between ear and shoulder while people go about their daily business. And whether or not the next generation will still have two ears and/or be able to stand fully upright, with ear not attached to shoulder permenantly. Should be interesting to see. And cell phones have given multitudinous writers ideas for stories. I'm sure there are plenty more out there.

'Scuse me, my cell phone is ringing. That would be the new one the company just sent me that takes pictures and has some sort of direction finder, for when I get lost. Have a good day. And don't forget to charge your cell phone.

Superman Celebration...

By Lonnie Cruse

First, my apologies for being late to post this morning. I've got a new satellite dish, and it's been storming most of the morning, keeping me offline and sans television. Not good. And I can't seem to format this properly this morning. The paragraphs keep snuggling together, sigh, no matter how many spaces I put in. Hope you can read this!

Left picture: Fifteen foot tall statue of Superman at the Metropolis, IL courthouse. Flowers were put there a while back in tribute to actor Christopher Reeve, as was the black material draped on the railing. Oh, and the railing is there to keep us locals from mowing down the tourists who used to stand in the middle of the street to take pictures. Works for me.

Center picture: Actor John Schneider (Smallville and Dukes of Hazzard) appearing at the annual Superman Celebration, one of the nicest celebs we've ever had. You can just barely see the lovely Margot Kidder next to the guy's orange shirt. Actor Scott Cranford is in the back of the shot, he always comes as Superman. Big hit with the kids. Scott and his wife were married at the statue.

Bottom picture: Me (when I was still pretending my hair wasn't grey) with the lovely Noel Neill. The indoor pictures were taken in the Metro Chamber of Commerce, one of the most unusual C of C's anywhere! All photos by Lonnie Cruse.

Today and tomorrow the annual Superman Celebration takes place in downtown Metropolis, Illinois. (In case you haven't heard me say this, we're the only Metropolis in the U. S. Zip Code book.) I'll be at the celebration most of Saturday, hopefully in my usual spot, in front of Humma's, selling my books. And I'll be at the main tent from 6-8 PM on Saturday night, selling bricks (yes, I said bricks) to raise money for the Noel Neill/Lois Lane statue, soon to be unveiled. The bricks will have buyers names on them.

Noel is a real sweetheart. Now over eighty-five years old, she shows up every year for the celebration, signing autographs, chatting with the crowd, bringing DVD's of the old Superman television show she appeared in back in the 50's for tourists who wander into the Metro Chamber of Commerce to watch. She's a real treasure, and the tourists and locals alike love her. I'm a big fan.

The Superman Celebration brings visitors from all over the world. And vendors selling everything imaginable. I always enjoy checking out the vendor tents. And while the new Superman movies and comics are popular, the vintage stuff is the biggest crowd pleaser. Unfortunately today, the weather is not cooperating, and it makes it tricky to keep the tents in place.

For a couple of years we've battled thunderstorms, not a good thing for standing under a metal awning, selling books. Eeek. So I won't be able to set up until tomorrow.

So, what does this have to do with mystery? Not a lot, except it's a mystery how a small town can hold so many people once a year, and don't forget my mysteries are set there. Metropolis is a town full of charm, fun to visit, and lots to see. We have kryptonite, a Planet newspaper, and, of course, THE statue. I love living here, and the town is a perfect setting for a mystery series!

Ya'll come see us!