A/S/L?

Remember when instant messaging was GREATER than text messaging? When you used dial-up and tied up your phone line just to get online and type to people in real time?

What happened to the good ol’ days of primal internet? When conversations with online strangers began with A/S/L…with hopes that you’d have a connection and convince the person to e-mail you a picture? Sometimes you still spoke to that person without a picture because they were an interesting character. There was a thrill factor. There was anonymity. There was only so much information you could find about that person on other websites. Your best bet was to stick to the primary source.

Were chat rooms your thing? Before the predators were at large. Live journals were the archaic blogs. Making the American Online (AOL) Search log was comparable to ‘Trending’ on Twitter. Times have surely changed, but in my not too distant past I was introduced to AOL. The family used a shared AOL account, and my screen name always had those stupid parental restrictions. Do those even exist anymore? My only means of getting to the chat rooms was to use someone else’s screen name, and I had no qualms about that. When I got into the chat room I would quickly set up my screen name: SINCERITY710. I loved to chat, pretend I was 18 when I was really 16. If the scanner was working, I would scan some pictures of myself and upload them, waiting for the next private chat request.

And when that window popped up…

I might would choose “ACCEPT” and respond…

18/F/Queens.

18/F/Queens

YOUR TURN! What was your screen name and why? What are some of your favorite memories from the AOL-era?

Voicemails I Don’t Delete

Hey missy, it’s your momma. Calling to check on you. Call me whenever you get a chance okay? have a good day. Love you.  

Tracey no tengo internet en la casa por eso no ha oido de mi y me fui y se me olvido pagarle su celular. Ojala que no se lo hayan cortado. Estoy llamando de la casa de abuelita. I’m leaving tonight to go back to San Jose. During the week I’m gonna see how I can make the payment for you and emm…I’ll try calling you somewhere during the week, ok? Bueno mamacita cuidese…bye.

Uhh..Tracey dame una llamada cuando tenga chance por favor. Ok. Thanks. Bye bye.

Yo maing, why is your phone off? I’m gonna be at Chris’, it’s like almost 6:30 but I’m on my way to Chris’ cuz we’re going to have dinner at his mom’s house so…i… probably won’t be able to talk later. I don’t want to be rude and all in the phone, all up on the phone. Anyway, let me know what’s going on.

Tracey! It’s Anna. I’m sorry I missed your call earlier I wasn’t paying attention. Um. Yea. Call and bother me. That sounds good. Yayyyy we’re almost done. I can’t wait. One more day. Alright. Bye.

Ey Tray-cey. Uh, It’s your neighbor Brian. Um, yea so about the security deposit (laughs). I. Don’t. Know. I mean, I know I gave him one, like, years ago when I first moved in and I mean he should give it back to you. If you’re asking for it back and there’s no damages and all that stuff, which I’m sure there’s not. However I think I owe him a couple hundred bucks in general so I’m not, I’m hoping he’s not asking me for the rest of the rent and I’m not asking him for the rest of the security deposit back, if that makes sense. Yea so if you gave him one, he owes it to you when you move out. Alright? Talk to you later.

Hey mama it’s me. I’m just calling you to let you know that we leaving now. Okay? Um, I love you, and I gonna try to give you a call later on if I can. If I not, you know I love you and I will talk to you when I get a chance, okay? Love you, talk to you later. Bye.

Hey Tracey, its Kristie…hiiiiiiiiigh. Um, give me a call when you get this message I sent you an e-mail and a couple of texts regarding Juan Jose. He danced with you at the wedding and he was really taken by you I’m trying to be neutral but um, right.. you’re not on Facebook so he can’t really contact you on his own. And I have your number but I don’t want to really give it to him without your consent. So call me, text me, and e-mail me let me know if it’s okay. Okay babe, take care. And. Congratulations on your grad school acceptance. That’s an awesome university. Can’t wait to talk to you more about that. Bye!

Hi Tracey Good Morning. When you called me the other day I was doing some catering at Tarrytown. I guess I’m just trying to return your call, and give me a call so we chat later on, alright? Have a blessed day. Thank you.

Tracitaaaa! I just saw you called. I’m getting my nails done so I didn’t have my phone handy but call me back okay I said hiii Tracey! Alright call me, I just got here. Alright.

Hi. Um (clears throat) just calling to say hello. Um haven’t spoken to you in a while. Calling to see how you’re doing. Hope all is well. Okay. Bye.