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PatchWork |
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PatchWork |
Last Updated 11/02/06
Email: joy@our-town.com
We Have Become a Set of Numbers
by Joyce Whitis
Remember reading “1984” by George Orwell? I think it was published sometime in the ‘50’s and was a prophecy about the future of man on this earth. There was Big Brother watching our every move and we were all known by numbers. No names, just numbers. Well it took a little longer than 1984 but all the time our civilization was rolling toward the fulfillment of that prophecy.
In 2006 it is complete. A social security number issued at birth is identification for life. When you pass your driving test another number is stamped on your papers and this too stays with you as long as you legally drive. There are groups of numbers like your date of birth that you are often asked for and telephone numbers including cell phones. Addresses include numbers and recently these numbers have extended to include 911 (more numbers) addresses on every back road in the county.
These new numbers for houses along with the road number are supposed to make it easy for emergency vehicles to find you but is that a fact? When a fire truck or ambulance or the sheriff is called to come, the caller is asked for the address and then detailed directions to get there. The conversation might go something like this.
From Stephenville, take Graham Street out of town going north and turn onto Pigeon Road. It only goes left, you know, right by the skating rink. The number ? Oh I think it’s 2303. Go to the end of the Pigeon Road, about 7 miles, and turn right on highway 219 where it T’s in. Go on by the Beyer place, nice brick house with pretty mares and new babies in a pasture to the south.
Go on around the curve and about a mile down that highway turn left on County Road 419. The only thing is, somebody stole the sign. They also stole the sign that said ‘Children at Play’ so watch out for kids on four wheelers and go carts. Just take the left caliche road past the Gallaher place. That’s the old white farm house that looks so pretty and well-kept. They usually have several vehicles parked around the barn and there’s a big barbecue grill setting out there. They have a lot of visitors from the city on weekends and holidays, especially during hunting season.
Anyway, go down that road past a double wide, then a brick house, then a dairy barn just off the road, and past a single mobile home. Our place is next on the left. Our number is on the mailbox and on the gate, unless somebody has taken a baseball bat to the mailbox so that you can’t read the number. In that case look on the gate if it’s still there.
Recently I set down to write thank you notes and address them for mailing. Since a good part of them were in the country, immediately a problem came up. No longer could I just write the person’s name and send it to Route 4 or whatever. I was told by the post office that all such mail would go into the trash can. I knew where all the people lived. I could drive straight to their houses, but didn’t have a clue as to address. I got out the phone book to see if any of them had added their addresses to their phone listings. Not very many had.
When I looked for the address of one friend, Hwy 219 was given. Well I know where she lives and it’s not within miles of 219. Another neighbor’s location was given as Lingleville which is roughly 6 miles away from where her house is.
My suggestion to all my country friends with a telephone listed is this. Call the phone company some day when you have several hours to kill and you aren’t too tired to punch numbers and listen to bad music while you wait to speak to a real live person. Call and ask to have your correct address included after your name in the next phone book. We did this last year and by golly, it is great. Your friends who would like to send cards and letters will really appreciate it but you’ll still have to give detailed directions to anybody who wants to come see you. 911 addresses seem to be for mail delivery only. When it comes to finding folks, those numbers just don’t cut it.