Once upon a time there was this little girl whose only dream was for her family to own a 70’s style rotary telephone.

Her family was poor and only able to use their money wisely to pay for bills and eat every day. As the time passed by, this little girl wanted to own a rotary telephone more and more.

It wasn’t for a specific mission,
it wasn’t for a specific task,
it wasn’t even for a specific reason,
it was just because these 70’s style rotary telephones were beautiful to look at.

Western Electric 302 Rotary Telephone – Black

Most of her friends had a version of it – even more than one. Some of her family members had one too. “Why can’t I have one?”, she asked over and over. The answer was always the same “we can’t afford it, and go play with your brother”.

I was obsessed owing one of them. They were everywhere.

Her love for these telephones was so big that she fantasized quite much on that first moment she get to hold one. These fantasies would go from how she would answer some phone calls, how she would stick and move her fingers to dial a number and how to position herself while using it.

Not amount of empty cardboard bathroom rolls or plastic scraps helped her replacing the real thing, they lack soul. The weight made this telephone complete. It became clear the weight was the soul of the telephone.

Time passed by and these rotary telephones were replaced by the buttons type. “Who likes that?”, she asked. Eventually her passion to own one rotary telephone faded.

It was over.

The new telephone era for the home was not the same. It moved quickly from the button telephone to the electric type fast after that. The designs on the new desk telephone types became more “stylish” but became easily forgotten. Back button light, visual displays, menu options, different ring tones ahhhhhhhh too complicated, annoying and boring. The little girl was not captivated by the idea of owning a telephone anymore.

By the time this little girl was able to earn her first disposable income at the age of 20, the cellular phone era was super mega blooming. She got herself a Motorola StartTac, a Nokia, a Samsung, and even an iPhone during the next 10 years after that.

She left her home, and seeked new adventures in a new land. She got married and thought she had everything she needed.

Until one day, her father in law surprised her at a Christmas day. He arrived with a big and heavy box that said “Little Girl” and handed it to her. She was not impressed by this, especially when the season was all about to hand over surprises.

She left the package un-opened for a while, “what’s the rush?” she thought.  Upon feeling pressure to unveil the surprise, she proceeded to unwrap the package. The little girl noticed some numbers peeking through the white tissue paper. “That can’t be, can it?” and then, to her surprise, it was it! Her long loved rotary telephone that for so long she had dreamed of was right there, on her palms. It was the right shape, the right color, the right weight. It was perfect. The best of the best holidays ever for her. Her very own telephone, to use and misuse as she pleased. Forever and ever to hold and love. They go reunited at last.

The little girl’s soul glowed in a way it didn’t do for a long time – this was a moment that repaired sore childhood memories as well as the fulfillment of an unsatisfied possession. Her long dreamed and desired rotary telephone has become part of her home, family and herself. From that day the little girl’s household have lived happily ever after.

Based on a true story. Did you own one of these telephones, ever? or…Do you still?

The Western Electric Model 500 – Red. At home.