Cost Cutting Measures

How times have changed.

There used to be a time, not so long ago, when a birthday would be treated with the utmost importance. A gift, a card, a phone call, even a simple hug or a kiss. But technology has transformed the way we say 'Happy Birthday!'

It started a few years back with the e-card. Everybody jumped on the e-card wagon. It was a cheap, simple, instant means of saying those special words to that special someone. However, little by little, these free e-card websites started to see green, and suddenly people were being forced to pay for use of e-cards. That was the end of that option.

Then came the cell phone wave in about 2001. Suddenly, there were more cellular telephones than there were land lines. And there began a shift in the way we communicated.

Little by little, people began to gravitate to a special feature called SMS, better known as text messaging. At first texts were free (for C&W anyway), but eventually all providers began charging. But the charges were, and remain, minimal. It costs $4 to send a text overseas, and between $2.50 and $4 to send texts within the island's boundaries.

As the text message wave picked up, the service was used for everything- to say hi, to call meetings, to organize a date... Consequence- 'Happy Birthday' was no longer said in a song, or a call, or a visit... instead it's:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Sender: Raisha L
+18765551234
Sent: Oct 17, 2006
12:47:19

Now, here's the sucky part. Not only do I have to pretend to be flattered by the efforts of my $3 friends, but I have to spend $3 of my own simply to say 'Thank you!' It's my day, dammit, why am I spending???

I'm kiddin'. Your cheapness is nonetheless appreciated. All good wishes are invaluable.

P.S.: Raisha called :-)