353-3289

Jonathan and I stay in touch with telephone text messages. Everyday I send him a line or quote from a movie, TV show, or song to see if he knows the rejoinder. He almost always does. I don't know who's going to play this game with him when I'm gone. His mother and sister won't be able to fit the bill.

Last week I asked him, "What's the most famous telephone number in history?"

Do you know the answer?

867-5309

And that's pronounced 867-530 ni ee ine.

It's Jenny's number.

A less famous number is 353-3289.

It was my home telephone number for most of my childhood. It was Momma and Daddy's number. It was Daddy and Helen's number. It was Daddy's home number until he died.

I think that if you asked me 50 years from now what my home phone number was when I was 10 years old --- I'll be able to tell you without hesitation. I may not know my telephone number or my name in 2058 --- but I'll know 353-3289.

I called that number when I was in my first car wreck. I called that number from India. I called that number to let Mother know I had arrived safely. I called that number knowing that love and help was on the line.

It may seem strange to you for me to reflect on a simple 7 digit telephone code in this manner. And to be honest with you, I guess that I never gave the number a single conscious moment of thought ----- until it came time to turn it off. To cancel it. To say to Ma Bell, "Please, discontinue this service. Nobody's home."

It IS strange that such simple things can take on such great meaning, such great weight, and contain such value.

My next step is to delete 353-3289 from my cell phone speed dial.

Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.
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