The other day I found myself in a controlled panic. Why? Well, I was at Stanley Park on a stormy, winter evening (driving home from the Christmas miniature train) and the battery on my cell phone had just run out of charge.

I planned on taking the highway home. And the first thought to cross my mind was: what if something happens to me on the dark, snowy drive home and I can’t call anyone to let them know where I am or that I’m going to be late? The entire drive home I felt anxious and hyper-aware of the weather conditions around me. Needless to say I arrived home safe and dry (and on-time). And the first thing I did was re-charge my cell phone for the next day.

As I read what I just wrote, I realize I probably come across as being over-reactive and quite silly. But at the time it felt like a legitimate fear. And during that white-knuckled drive home I kept reminding myself: you’ve been in situations like this before and never even owned a cell phone at the time. Yes, I am of that generation who never had access to mobile technology until I was a young adult. So as a teenager there were numerous incidences where I was driving in blizzard-like conditions or on unlit logging roads and I had no way of calling my loved ones if something went awry. And when I went back-packing in South America after university I only called home about once per week (from international calling stations). And there was no way my family could have located me as I travelled between the tiny towns and big cities and trekked around the Andes mountains (didn’t have email then either).

Seriously. It really puts things in perspective.