After the storm hit last week, all cellphones had problems. Cellphone towers were knocked down everywhere. I found that I could make calls, if I stood across the street under the street sign. I could only send one line texts. It was difficult, but I could communicate with the world.

My parents' phone was completely useless. With all the trees down, it would take me 45 minutes to drive to their house to check on them. 

My mom got their phone with a coupon in an AAA package. It was so cheap that it was the kind that drug dealers on "The Wire" would use once and throw away. It used some obscure carrier out of Utah. I said that they HAD to get a new phone for safety sake, and they finally agreed. They still don't have phone or Internet service, so a good cellphone is essential. 

On Sunday, I took them to the mall. I had my dad write a wishlist of features that he wanted on the phone. He read his list off to the salesdude, who amazingly did not crack a smile. "I want one of those address book things. I want a camera…"

We got him an iPhone 4, because they are selling them for .99 right now. He had no idea that he could check e-mail and read Drudge on it. It was like Christmas.