Simple Texts

We’ve all become accustomed to it by now. You hear the quick vibration and see the screen of your phone light up with excitement. It’s the beauty of a simple text message. Usually, it’s just your parents checking in or a trivial conversation with a friend but occasionally, a text can hold more weight than you ever imagined possible. A few simple words sent through cyberspace have the power to change your mood, day or in some dramatic cases your life, and I got a little taste of it this weekend.

It popped up on my screen like any typical text message and I was in no rush to read what it said. When I slid the green bar across and opened the thread I realized it was more important than I anticipated. “Did you hear there was a bomb in Manhattan?” For most residence of Ada, Ohio this message would be disheartening and disappointing but not something to worry about. When your sister lives in Manhattan, however, the 35 characters carry a different feeling. I immediately texted my sister, “Are you okay? I heard there was a bomb” and waited anxiously, heart racing and palms sweating, for her response. In the 10 minutes that felt like 10 hours waiting for her to reply, I realized that this was a constant stress that New Yorkers willingly endured (and forced their families to endure).  Her response was, “There was a bomb?”

Luckily, my sister lives 30 blocks from the bombsight and was perfectly fine. The fascinating part is that a girl who stays on top of current events and breaking news had absolutely no idea there was a bomb. My simple text message traveled faster and got to her more efficiently than any news outlet possibly could have. I was able to give her details of the incident and the location of the bomb before she even had time to turn on a television and flip to CNN. It’s a comforting feeling to know that communication with your family and friends is only fingertips away and it’s not something to take for granted.

Fortunately, no one died on September 17, 2016 because of the terrorist bomb explosion on West 23^rd Street. However, 29 civilians were injured that day and I bet they received a couple text messages from worried loved ones living miles away.