I liked this article by Garrison Keillor at Salon: For whom the cell tolls

This is what our women wanted when they said, "Why don't you ever talk to me?" We imagined that they wanted us to talk about the future of higher education, so we sat and thought long thoughts, but really they only wanted some clucking and chittering, a few caws. This is what cellphones are for, to honk into and declare our position and reaffirm loyalty.

Bob calls me several times during the day to tell me what he's doing, where he is. On the weekends he calls to find out what I'm doing, where I am. I call him when I get in my car to go home, to tell him I'm on my way. I call him when I'm going to the gym, to let him know I'm going to be out of touch for awhile.

My friend in England sends me text messages when he's away from the computer; we check on each other a few times a week, and every day when one of us is away from home.

My mom calls me, my sisters call, the guys at work have my number in case they need me when I'm out walking.

Before I had a cell phone, I didn't really think I would want one. I kind of liked being out of touch. But now I see the advantages, and I love it. I still like, sometimes, to have the feeling that no one knows where I am, but now they don't have to know where I am to get hold of me. I like knowing that I don't have to stay by the phone, I can just put the phone in my pocket. It's freeing for me, rather than confining. I like that.