Old habits die hard

When it comes to cell phone etiquette, I admit I often miss the mark. I don't answer incoming numbers I don't recognize, and I loathe checking my voicemail. Right now, my phone shows I have two voicemails in my inbox. I won't check those until I have about 8 more messages waiting.

I hate typing in security passwords just to hear messages like, "Hey Stephanie, it's _____. Call me back." My theory is if I already have a number stored, I'll see the missed call and return it -- no voicemail needed. And the theory hasn't failed me yet!

Most of my friends are aware of this bad habit. If they don't get me on the phone, they'll shoot me a text message, and I'm always quick to reply. But this bad habit came back to bite me, like most do.

I was at Willis-Knighton a few weeks ago, where my grandfather had just undergone surgery. My family and I had been sitting there for hours. I'd flipped through all the magazine pages I could stand before I resorted to checking my 10-plus voicemails. Waiting in the midst of outdated phone messages was something I wasn't expecting.

"Hello Stephanie, this is Lee Greenwood. ..."

I'd been trying to schedule an interview with Greenwood for weeks. I'd never been notified of a time for the interview and I didn't answer because I didn't know the number. In fact, I didn't even know he had my cell phone number! I missed my shot at an interview, and Greenwood and I were never able to schedule another time.

At this point, I'm not so proud to be a phone screener.

Check out Greenwood at 8 p.m. Saturday at DiamondJacks Casino in Bossier City.