I was startled a bit when the phone rang tonight.

This jolt was a direct result of the new telephones I had installed in the apartment.  I hadn’t yet heard their rings, so the sudden sound of Autumn calling was much louder and more dissonant than I was used to.

The realization that followed, however, was almost more troublesome:  I had plugged the new phones in several days ago.  I had been home all weekend, and hadn’t heard them ring once.

It’s obvious that I need to keep in better touch with my friends.  It’s gotten to the point where they don’t even call me on the weekends anymore, because they know that I won’t want to do anything.

Most of the time I live like a hermit.  I don’t usually enjoy going out, instead preferring that people come to my home.  The only problem is that I enjoy throwing parties less each year, too.  In recent times, they’ve become more of a hassle then anything.

So this is what happens.  People call less and less until I don’t even know the sound of my own phones.

Fortunately, there’s a big Halloween party this weekend.  I’ll be making an appearance there, so that’s a start at least…