Guess how many phone calls I made? NONE. I kept everyone informed via WhatsApp, including my mother, who was overseas, the rest of my family, my close friends, and even my partner, who had to drive separately to the ambulance. Texting was efficient, helped me manage everyone’s reactions, and put a very useful buffer zone between me and their anxiety. I have a very dangerous hobby – I ride horses, and specifically eventing, which is one of the riskier sports, even at the lower levels.
When I’ve fallen off and badly hurt myself, I am more likely to text than ring my partner to let him know he needs to come take me to the hospital. Texting means I can lead with the important info and give clear instructions, instead of stressing him out and complicating the process. In fact, in the 15 years my partner and I have been together, we have probably spoken on the phone just a handful of times. We’re more likely to text continuously when
we’re apart, including during six months of long distance. My one area of flexibility is the voice note. I hate a phone call, but I love a voice note from a friend – and the longer the better. One of my closest friends lives in Scotland, where I met her while living there for a year. I met her towards the end of my time there, but in the decade since, she has become my almost daily confidant via voice notes. We send each other
a recording of 10 mins or more, and reply according to the time difference, each waking up the other’s missives. I can’t think of anything worse than actually calling her to talk, but I LOVE listening to her chat while I go about my morning tasks, and replying thoughtfully when I have a minute to myself.
phone calls, emergency communication, WhatsApp, texting, voice notes, eventing, riding horses, long distance
So basically phones are scary? lol
I mean, I get it, but calling someone is still faster than typing stuff while you’re panicking. WhatsApp voice notes I can agree with though, those are kinda nice.
Wait she says she never calls under 40… so if you’re 41 you get phone calls? Like what? Also horses being dangerous like that sounds made up, I feel like people exaggerate for attention. But if she fell off, sure just message. Ambulance though, would a text even work fast enough??
This is kinda wild to me because my family would lose their minds if I didn’t call. I can’t imagine texting during an emergency like “hey come now” with the whole buffer zone for anxiety, that just sounds like delaying. Also voice notes for like 10 minutes every day?? That’s basically a podcast, not a convo. And eventing?? Isn’t that like jumping fences, like everyone knows that’s dangerous so why not just call your partner every time like a normal person? Idk.