Phone-y Convenience

Thomas Hemminger

November 5, 2023

My Grandpa was an Iowa carpenter,

and his phone was a giant box on the wall. 

He made the body of it in his shop, 

and he put the phone parts in it himself. 

I never really saw him use it. 

I am a city dweller, 

and I have a phone in my pocket. 

I bought it from a company worth billions,

and I have no idea who built it. 

I use it all the time. 

Grandpa never lost his cool, 

and I have high blood pressure. 

Grandpa did not catch the news every day, 

but I have to check it every few minutes.

Grandpa “never met a stranger,”

yet I am a stranger to the folks two houses down. 

That doesn’t sound like convenience to me.

Thomas Hemminger is an elementary music teacher living in Dallas, Texas. His personal hero is Mr. Fred Rogers, the creator of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. It was through America’s favorite “neighbor” that Thomas learned of the importance of loving others, and of giving them their own space and grace to grow.