Show Numbers Getting Longer Memory Getting Shorter By Myrna T. T Borg BorgA A long time ago when this city and I were both a lot younger I memorized the phone numbers of all of my friends It was easy There were only two prefixes Wasatch and Hyland roughly dividing the city in half Since I Iwas Iwas Iwas was a sheltered child all of my friends were within walking distance and therefore had the same prefix as I did so I only had to remember one prefix In addition addition ad ad- not everyone in my neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neigh neigh- or any other had a telephone tele tele- phone so I proudly smugly carried around in my head several really only a few four-digit four numbers Big deal With a memory like mine it seemed so Even now when nearly everyone everyone everyone every every- one I know does have a telephone and everyone I know does not have havethe havethe havethe the same prefix and curses the prefix is a three-digit three number I still manage to dial a few numbers- numbers those without used very frequently the aid of a phone book Im I'm hanging hanging hanging hang hang- ing in there Before zip code I knew by heart at least half a dozen of the addresses on my Christmas Card list continued on page 6 Numbers Longer Memory Shorter continued from page 4 Even now after zip code I know the addresses of my neigh neigh- bors Naturally Right now I could probably drop a note to my mother or daughter without having it end up in limbo The era is over Beginning in February the United States Postal Service will expand the present five-digit five zip code to nine digits Nine Digits The same as a social security num num- ber All is lost It took me 21 years to memorize my social security number but what was the need There it was on a handy little card cardin in my wallet The U. U US U.S. S. S Postal Service ex- ex plaines that although everyone will receive the longer zip codes by July this new system is actually designed to speed up the handling of first-class first business mail Letters that carry the old zips will willbe willbe willbe be delivered as usual But friends we know from past experience dont don't we that it will be only a matter of time before they will refuse refuse refuse re re- fuse to deliver anything without the nine-digit nine number Woe is me Even so take heart We really are not as put upon as we might be Count your your blessings Let me tell you of a sad reality that has not come our way yet My son corresponds with a girl in Germany and he recently received a Christmas Card from her with her name address and phone number printed on the envelope flap I did a double take You guessed it reads the last line Ten digits As I said count your blessings For a little while anyway I read that New York City was running out of phone numbers We know dont don't we that it will willbe willbe willbe be only a matter of time |