No-Phone Zone!

Watching a bit of the Oprah show today, I was amazed at how such an issue has evaded our society until now! I have always been an avid texter and can confess am addicted to my Blackberry. My almost 14-year old daughter, (who should have her cell surgically attached to her hand to make things easier!), can attest to that.

However, when both of my children were pleading with me to put my phone down at times when I was driving them to school or sporting events, fighting traffic and cursing I couldn't get the right symbol I wanted to send to the eager texter on the other end of my Smartphone wonder, I realized something: life is too precious to waste over a smiley face and LOL.

Not that I put the phone down right away. It's been a slow progress. It helps being from British Columbia, Canada, where as of January 1st of 2010 everyone in our Province was not only celebrating the New year and perhaps suffering from a few hangovers, but we were also adjusting to a Hands-Free Zone.

It is now illegal to be texting or talking while driving a vehicle in our province; the fine is hefty and the points a driver can accumulate are not worth it. Who wants to lose their license over a cell phone!!???

So, I too, had my AHA moment watching horrendous video of accidents caused by texting and driving, and just by the mere fact of being 'busted' by the police for such a stupid infraction, have put down the phone. Well not down, but away, in my purse, in the back seat (where my ingenious son now has the ability to rifle through it to find gum!)

I hope you all join the pledge, not only for Oprah,(because, really, does she need another big birthday wish?) but for ourselves and for everyone out there who are at the mercy of our driving!