Re: “New area code is a sign of the times” (May 15, Opinion):
Good to hear from you 564, and welcome!
Scooching over to make room, this absolutely-freaking-from-Seattleite feels warm and fuzzy telephone thoughts and thanks the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission update for causing my reminiscence.
The phone really was a wondrous device in earlier days, and I admit to making a prank call or two for my and friends’ own amusement (no, I’m not “do you have Prince Albert in a can?” old; I’m “is your refrigerator running?” old — sheesh). The way people responded to a ringing phone was a study in the variety of human nature. Who didn’t know someone who would quite nearly literally risk breaking their neck in order to pick up within a ring or two? And what about the retail havoc when a calling customer interrupted your being next in line? That script has flipped: Now it’s customers choosing to awkwardly remain engaged in a phone convo throughout a transaction — ugh.
Ah well, busting out a new area code? It’s numerically cool by me!
Theresa Santucci, Seattle
