life
ROBINSON'S RAMBLINGS
Phoneless in CoMo
AN ABRUPT CHANGE IN PLANS LEADS TO REDISCOVERY. BY JOHN DRAKE ROBINSON · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
H
er morning started hectic
shop online. Now, she felt unprepared,
as usual.
naked without her phone. She knew a
She had to wake her
day at the phone store loomed, several
family, prepare breakfast,
agonizing hours before she could walk
veto outfits, load backpacks and deliver the kids to school. But an extra layer of tragedy wrapped the family. Her smartphone — her lifeline — had found the bottom of the toilet.
out with a replacement. She cursed herself for being so dependent on electronics. But suddenly, driving away
today would be her day. She quickly decided on a plan — she would shop local. Downtown Columbia was bustling. A stroll down 9th Street reacquainted her with several shops she had always loved but hadn't frequented for months, even years. At Shortwave’s, she pulled out
from school, phoneless, a sense of
a notepad and organized a list with a
empowerment washed over her. She
theme: the gifts she sought would have
happened. Denials and accusations
realized that for this one day, she
no cords or batteries.
flew all around. All of her children
could fly under the radar, anonymous,
touched her phone at one time or
unreachable. It gave her a feeling of
another that morning. At this point,
independence. Sure, people depended
it didn't matter how the phone was
on her to solve their problems, brighten
where among the 9th Street coffee
destroyed. It was gone.
their days, maintain world peace. But
houses, local bookstores thrive.
Nobody would say for sure how it
As a result, her daily routine was in for a big change. She had planned to
they would have to wait. In a moment of renewed purpose, she resolved that
She was after books. Children's books, novels, histories and mysteries. She was lucky to live in Columbia,
She could see the first bookstore while she browsed in Bluestem. INSIDE COLUMBIA DECEMBER/JANUARY 2022 35
