Rolladex

Today, it is more common to store names and addresses on device files rather than the "hard" versions. My mother had little leather covered books with friends' names and over the years, scratched out and put in additions. Some had brief notes such as "died Nov 2", "BD Sept 13" and so on. A few had longer entries: tiny maps of how to get to the address listed and others, a roster of relatives or food allergies in case the person came to dinner. You didn't leave my mother's house without a meal! When I found a need to collect this kind of information for my list of contacts, I bought a shiny black plastic Rolladex with its little white cards and alphabetical dividers. Gradually it grew. Once all the cards were used, it was time to go through and weed the thing to remove scribbles for people who disappeared from my life in some way and use the backs of the same cards. I continue to keep up my good old Rolladex but I must admit, now it is rather disgusting and when taken down from the door covered shelf above my phone, I must do so with caution. It could shed and then I would lose some precious content. It looks a little like a paper porcupine. The cards are dog eared and full of scribbles - had to add e mail addresses to most - and there is more in the file than little white cards. I have a bad habit of asking folks for their Card. I capitalise because nowadays cards are works of art. Some have them done elaborately and professionally and others make up their own. The logos seem to be of special importance. A number of my friends have romantic "professions" of their own invention. World Traveller. Sports Car Racer. Best Mom In The World. Beauty Contest Winner. Crabbiest Uncle. Some are not publishable but reflect their creators' greatest personal aspirations. I also collect wine bottle labels and now that I think of it, the two would make good companions framed and  mounted on a board in my den. My Rolly, his shortened name form, goes with me on longer trips. Beside the tubes and bottles not allowed through the scanner, lies Rolly looking somewhat forlorn with his cards inside a plastic bag for safety amongst the tee shirts and sox. While cell phones and their companions store all the operating info you need, I enjoy fingering my way mechanically through the small pile of cards and bits of real paper stuffed into the file. It's a trip down memory lane. There's the card of a dear friend who died, duly noted on the card, one that I simply can't toss out. And here is my favorite place to market for eggs with their cute motto and a funny logo that makes me smile. Again, I come across the address of someone on another continent, a distant relative who might be dead now, but just in case, I keep it. This set of cards concerns a financial institution that has a general number somewhere in the world that promises to connect me with MsSmith in the accounting department but when I finally get to MsSmith, she is "not at her desk" and "please leave a message" and her box is full. Therefore, I have a secret list of their personal numbers kindly given, where I may "reach me any time" they say. And then there is the family section so designated because we appear to have all the same name. I cheated a bit here because I have listed them that way while their married names do indeed, lurk beside their birth names. That way I can keep the family together, divorce notwithstanding. Most of them are relatives I will never call since I got their numbers at a family reunion five years ago, the last time I saw them but the number might come in handy if we organize another reunion, God willing, as we are all getting no younger. I have only Aunt Belvia left. The hotel section is another boon. On each card, I have the rates posted. Some of them are obviously out-dated. Who ever heard of a good hotel today charging only 72 dollars a night? Also, being a librarian, I have See and See Also cards. You never know, I might look up "Hair Hair Here" under that or Beauty Salons or Hair Stylists. In any event I will catch up with them one way or another. Rolly sometimes loses his cards or gets a bit disorganised or untidy looking but he's more popular at my desk than the stapler. And who doesn't guard their staplers almost with their lives. Never did find the one I left at the mail box two years ago? Oh well, I still have good old Rolly.