My mom had knee surgery a few weeks ago and is on crutches. Their bedroom is on the 2nd story of their house and I worry about her falling on the stairs. So I call her from work mid-morning each day just to make sure she made it down the stairs okay that morning, and to see if she needs me to help her with lunch or anything. (Yes, I know I'm an overprotective daughter, but I get it from her.) My brother lives with my parents (college kid) and was off work today, so I didn't need to call today. But I wanted to invite them over for dinner tonight, so I called anyway, around 9:30am. No one answered. I figured Mom was in the shower and my brother was probably still asleep, so I waited until 10 and called again. No answer. Then I called my dad's office to ask if maybe she had an appointment my brother had taken her to. But Dad didn't pick up and I got his secretary's voicemail. Then I called his cell phone, which he also didn't answer. So then I called my brother's cell. No answer. THEN I called my mom's cell. No answer.

My entire family had disappeared.

I continued to make this round of calls for the next hour, with no one EVER answering ANY phones. In fact, all of their cell phones went straight to voicemail, which means THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THEM TURNED ON.

Worried my poor mother was lying at the bottom of the stairs, helpless and alone, I left work and drove to their house to check on her. No one was home, which I was glad about because it explained why no one was answering the house phone.

Now that I'm not worried anymore, I'm ANNOYED. I know exactly where each person's cell phone is: Mom's is in her purse, Dad's is clipped to his belt, and my brother's is in his jeans pocket. BUT THEY ARE NOT TURNED ON. My family must think cell phones are just for their own convenience and never stop to think that someone (ME) might be worried sick and trying to call them. What the hell is the point of having cell phones if you NEVER TURN THEM ON? Seriously folks, that shit ain't right.

There is just no excuse for this kind of behavior. They are so getting a lecture over dinner tonight.

Update - 3:10pm: I just now finally got Mom on the phone. She has been at the dentist ALL DAY getting caps and whitening. I had thought of the possibility of an appointment, but she and I talk every day and she didn't mention any appointments to me last evening. Well, it turns out she had intentionally not mentioned it because she wanted to surprise me with her new and improved smile. How can I be mad about that? And, how can I expect her to have her cell phone on when the dentist has his hand shoved in her mouth such that she couldn't answer it even if it did ring? So she's off the hook.

And my brother went in to work after all, and he always turns his cell off at work. So he's off the hook.

And my dad is traveling for work today and is out of cell range (Redneck Valley, remember). So he's off the hook as well.

Too bad, because I had a fire and brimstone sermon all ready to go.