No Cell Phone for You!

Have you heard this? A Los Angeles restaurant has been giving a 5 percent discount to any of its customers who hand over their cell phone before they eat. Their goal is to get people to interact face – to – face without the interruption of technology. I for one, think this is an amazing idea.

I would like it if more restaurants would adopt this policy. I know from personal experience how aggravating it can be to try to dine with someone who is constantly messing with their phone. Most times it causes me to day dream about taking the other person’s phone and throwing it through the eatery window or taking it outside, placing it under my tire and running it over seven times. Sadly, I have never done this.

I do, however, spew random thoughts that come out of my mouth at my dinner date when they are overly occupied with their phone. I like to say things that would normally make my date gasp. If I was dining with my husband, I would pull the “surprise, I’m pregnant,” card or if I was with my mother I would try the “I’m moving your grandchildren half way across the country” card. Usually, these don’t work and I just end up having a two sided conversation with myself.

I guess I don’t really care what the restaurant’s motive is for having patrons abandon their cell phones at the door. I would just like to tell them, thank you.

Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of The University of Montana, animal lover and writer.