This Is Still Awkward

 2024-06-29 This Is Still Awkward Merrit

Well, I called my parents, expecting the worst. I was 24 in 1984. Dad was 50. Mom 47. It’s 2024. Do the math… 

Not to mention they might have moved or changed phone numbers. So this iPhone is a cell phone. Cell technology was released in 1983, and I had read about it. I have no doubt they never imagined it would turn into this!

Mom answered. “Merritt! You didn’t call yesterday… but I figured you were caught up in your little trip to Vancouever… You never did tell your dad and me why you felt so strongly that you had to go there.”

That she mentioned dad was a relief.

“Yeah, well… I just always wanted to see the Pacific Northwest, and visit Canada.” I said it, but I swear I wasn’t thinking that.

“I have great news!” Mom just went to the next thing on her mind, as was her way. “You left your iPad in the TV room, and I couldn’t help noticing that you got an email alert from that company in New York…”

I had no idea what she was talking about.

“…All  I saw was ‘Congratulations’ on the alert popup. Check your email and see! I bet you got the job!”

“Check my email… Sure.” I said it, but  I don’t know what it meant. “I’ll do that soon, how’s everything else?”

She went on to tell me a lot of things I didn’t understand, but she did say she was looking forward to having a party for dad’s 51st birthday. 

I thought about that after the call ended. I skipped ahead. They skipped ahead, too? Or did I… like in some scifi story… skip to some alternate universe… or some alternate timeline of my universe… I don’t know what to think.

I do know that for some reason, I feel compelled to get dressed up and go to a dance club tonight. I mean like I MUST go. It’s not a place I ever heard of. Just some highrise club by the harbor. And it’s like I MUST go. 

So that…

Well, now I need to go figure out what email is and how to check mine. And if I did get that job, there’s going to be a big problem. I studied engineering for the 1980’s. I… just don’t know.

Anyway, I’ll get going. Thanks for taking this crazy ride with me!