--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a kid, phone calls were a…" description: "\"When I was a kid, phone calls were a premium commodity; only the very coolest kids had a phone line of their own, and long-distance phone calls were ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/susan-orlean-2207_commodity_when-i-was-a-kid-phone-calls-were-a-prem_728627.jpg" --- # When I was a kid, phone calls were a premium commodity… ![“When I was a kid, phone calls were a premium commodity; only the very coolest kids had a phone line of their own, and long-distance phone calls were made after eleven, when the rates went down, unless you were flamboyant with your spending. Then phone calls became as cheap as dirt and as constant…” quote by Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/susan-orlean-2207_commodity_when-i-was-a-kid-phone-calls-were-a-prem_728627.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/susan-orlean-2207_commodity_when-i-was-a-kid-phone-calls-were-a-prem_728627.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/susan-orlean-2207_commodity_when-i-was-a-kid-phone-calls-were-a-prem_728627.jpg) > “When I was a kid, phone calls were a premium commodity; only the very coolest kids had a phone line of their own, and long-distance phone calls were made after eleven, when the rates went down, unless you were flamboyant with your spending. Then phone calls became as cheap as dirt and as constant as rain, and I was on the phone all the time.” [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The shift from rare, expensive calls to ubiquitous, cheap communication changed social habits and personal behavior. **In simple terms:** Phones went from rare to constant. Key Takeaway Recognize how technology reshapes daily life. Themes technology communication social change nostalgia consumer behavior Mood reflective nostalgic analytical Type philosophical cultural When to use this quote - personal relationships - work habits - family dynamics - marketing strategies Key Concepts media saturation accessibility social connectivity Questions to Reflect On - How has constant connectivity altered your relationships? - What boundaries can you set with technology? A Different Perspective Cheap access can lead to overuse and reduced face‑to‑face interaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) [Flamboyant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flamboyant/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Long distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-distance/) [Phone calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [And if you're a parent who thinks you're okay because your kid doesn't have a phone or iPod yet, and/or you've used all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hax/and-if-you-re-a-parent-who-thinks-you-re-okay-because-your-kid-doesn/) [Carolyn Hax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hax/) > [You see families at a restaurant and the kids are on the phone and the adults are on the phone. 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Kevin Pietersen is flamboyant, but that style doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-have-to-accept-that-my-role-is-to-gather-the-runs-slowly-kevin/) [Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/) > [It's fun playing two roles. The roles provide a wonderful range of emotions. Stuart is childlike and sensitive. Adam is ruthless, outrageous. He's flamboyant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-canary/it-s-fun-playing-two-roles-the-roles-provide-a-wonderful-range-of/) [David Canary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-canary/) > [I'm the easiest person to sell as a villain. 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