A Coterie Of New

Oh, suddenly I have so many new friends.

They embrace me instantly by using my first name, not lingering on Mrs. or Ms., but jumping into the familiar.

Sometimes I am even “Honey,” or “Dear.” I really would prefer they not use those terms, but after all, I shouldn’t be rude and correct them either. I assume it is just their pattern of forming a new friendship.

Several of them have unfamiliar accents and a few have names that I cannot quite pronounce, but I would never call them “Dear,” and certainly not “Honey.” However, I am not going to be offended by their informality.

Yes it is quite nice to have them in my rather sheltered life. Some of them call twice a day, and just about all of them return my phone calls.

The only drawback is that despite the instant bond of friendship and familiarity, they quickly disappear. Of course, they are always replaced by another likable voice. Still sometimes I am reminded of slivers of quicksilver shooting across the darkened room.

All my new friends are residents of the various 800 numbers I seem to rely on more and more these days. The Apple help desk is resplendent with amazing occupants spaced geographically across our vast country. Within minutes of hearing my query, automatically we bond, and I become their friend, Anne.

Sometimes I am even reprimanded for impatience. Unfortunately, rather than quietly listening to instructions, I have a tendency to leap ahead. I made that mistake yesterday, and Justine became rather cross. I didn’t blame her, and I promised not to do it again. But after the call ended, Justine abruptly removed herself permanently from my life. I hope it wasn’t because I made the formatting correction myself rather than wait for her instructions.

I must admit that is one of the drawbacks with my new coterie of friends. They are short lived. Really short lived. The relationship only extends to the precise amount of time it takes to solve either my computer problem or question an order or a charge.

I must say though, that sometimes it is akin to a unexpected meeting with an old acquaintance when Henry or Heloise embrace you with “Hello, Anne. How are you doing today?”

I know they really care when they say that.