Lost in the Dust....

We admit it. Not that there is much point in trying to deny it – as anyone who knows us would immediately see. Roger and I are a couple of old farts. It wasn’t always this way; once we were younger than you are now. Time is a cruel master.

This is not intended to be a rant by another old guy about how things were better “back in the day”. Maybe there were; maybe they weren’t. Who knows.

A while ago, Roger called a Customer who had done us favour and Roger wanted to thank him. When he called, he got voice mail. As it was a personal message, rather than leave a voice mail, Roger hung up with the intent of calling back and speaking directly to the Customer . After an appropriate period, he tried again. When he called, he got voice mail. As it was a personal message, rather than leave a voice mail, Roger hung up with the intent of calling back and speaking directly to the Customer . After an appropriate period, he tried again. When he called, he got voice mail. As it was a personal message, rather than leave a voice mail, Roger hung up with the intent of calling back and speaking directly to the Customer . After an appropriate period, he tried again. When he called, he got voice mail. As it was a personal message, rather than leave a voice mail, Roger hung up with the intent of calling back and speaking directly to the Customer .

You get the idea....

The problem is this. With the passage of time, we no longer know what the etiquette or the protocols are in this situation. Do you keep trying and have the Customer think you are stalking them? Do you leave a voice mail that never conveys your appreciation as well as speaking directly to the person? Do you send an email – what we would think is even more impersonal than voice mail. Do you drive over and bang on their office door and say; “Thanks!” That might be a little over the top.

We don’t know how to properly handle a situation like this today.

We have been left behind – lost in the dust of history.


(Old age isn’t so bad – it has its advantages. I get to ride on the bus for a discounted fare. If I ever took the bus.)