Scratch Cards, Beeps, and a Face Lift

No, no, no.....I'm not cracking up!  All 3--scratch cards, beeps, and a face lift--have something to do with Liberia.

Cell phones are common in Liberia but I'm not sure if cell phone plans even exist.  Instead, we buy pre-paid minutes which are sold by scratch cards: buy a card, scratch the back for the number, enter it into the phone, and the phone is ready to use.

We used our phones the other day to call the States because we've been without internet service for over a week.  Can you believe that with these pre-paid minutes we pay only 5 cents a minute to call the States!  We had checked with our cell plan before leaving the States and found out if we called through that plan it would be $3.50 a minute.  Guess which phone we used!!

That brings me to the "beep."  We told our son and his wife if they need to contact us when the internet is down, they should "beep" us.  That's what the Liberians do if their minutes are getting low but they want to talk to someone.  They call the number, let it ring once, and then hang up.  That is the signal for the person to call them back.  I haven't figured out what happens if you beep someone and his minutes are low too!

This is reminding me of the "old days" when we were out here before cell phones and internet.  Even if we got to a place where a phone was available, the cost to the States was prohibitive, so the only direct contact I had with my parents was by ham radio maybe 2 or 3 times in 4 years.  We actually had to write letters in order to communicate!  What an ancient art that is!!! 

And where does a face lift fit into this scene?  It has nothing to do with scratch cards and beeps, but it is what I have decided I need.  No, don't worry, I'm not going under the knife for that reason either here or back home.  But it's so hot out here that I can't be ladylike and "perspire"; I'm sorry, but I "SWEAT"!  Actually, I've never been one to perspire; I've been sweating all my life!  And here in Liberia, it's much worse than at home.  What makes it even worse is that now that I'm an old lady (just remember that in Liberia "old lady" is a term of respect!) and my face is sagging, the sweat runs into my eyes.  Don't you think a face lift would be the cure for that?

Until next time, always remember: God is good!