blk

This is part of a project at Two Writing Teachers

I wasn’t the first nut on the line in front of my Apple store at the Palisades Mall on Friday. After all, I had an 8:00 exercise session and a a quick weigh immediately following with my latest diet guru. Couldn’t miss them.

But by 9:30 I did join a very relaxed line outside the store and it seemed to be moving slowly, but moving and I did bring my MacBook along for company, with wireless access thanks to Apple.

There didn’t seem to be too many people ahead of me, maybe 50, maybe a few more. I figured some people came together. So I was ready to wait, one hour, two? I didn’t think it would take forever.

My free phone from ATT that was supposed to tide me over until the real phone arrived was low on batteries and soon I wouldn’t be able to connect with Tuvia but I did figure that wouldn’t really matter. How long could it take?

As we waited, the guys behind and in front of me shared stories about getting their first Iphones just last year. they had been on a similar line and here they were back again for the G3. I smiled, remembering good techie advice: Never, never buy anything in its first generation.

I did make the mistake of trusting a very charming ATT store manager when he assured me that even though I was replacing my Verizon phone when the contract was up just a month before with a FREE ATT phone and new contract, I would still be eligible for any Iphone upgrade. SUCKER!

As the Apple guys provided their great brand of customer service was we waited, when Chris got to me, he was concerned, that I might not qualify for the upgrade. I was ready for a fight and I spent a hour of my line time battling with ATT phone workers. I got a promise from a supervisor that yes, he would waive a termination fee and yes, I would get the upgrade for a new line. That was true until I got home and found out he had no authority to promise me that. Oh well.

Back to the line. One hour, two, three, with water and coffee offered from the Apple staff, by the 5th hour I was sitting just under the white Apple trademark at the store door, at the front of the line.

It took 5 hours, because ATT wanted to prevent hackers from freezing them out. So Apple had agreed to activate all new Iphones at the store but by the time I was ready to activate my new Iphone the Apple guys just gave up and let the rest of us take them home to complete the process.

Of course it was fun to get into the store and chat with my Apple buddies but that’s when I truly felt the exhaustion of waiting for 5 hours without eating. As we froze in the Apple AC and filled our fancy black tote bags with car chargers,phone cases and contracts for the coveted new phone I hoped that Tuvia was patiently waiting to hear from me.

Somehow I doubted it.

So, are you wondering if it was all worth it?

I can’t say. The jury’s out.

As I drove to work this morning, I felt uncomfortable touching for a number.

Where’s the shortcut??? How come I dropped a call? Why couldn’t I hear Tuvia?

It will take some adjustment. All new phones do.

I owe it to Apple to be patient. I do?

Bonnie

PS Nice to be writing a Slice