Cell phones on a date

I was in Starbucks yesterday doing some work, and I noticed a man and a woman, both in their 30's, at a table near me that were obviously on a date. They didn't know each other very well because they were asking very basic questions like, "So what do you do for a living?", so this was definitely a first date. Everything seemed to be going very well, because they were both laughing and smiling, and they were enjoying each others' company.

Then the woman's cell phone rang.

She said, "Excuse me," and picked up her phone. The call was from a friend, most likely another woman from the nature of her tone of voice. She stayed on the phone for at least 5 or 6 full minutes. The man just sat there staring out the window, obviously uncomfortable with just sitting there waiting in silence during her phone call. When she finished her call, she apologized, and they started back up their conversation, which continued to be pleasant.

Ten years ago, this situation was barely even possible. Five years ago, this would have been considered rude to pick up your phone on a date. For many people in older generations, it is still considered rude, but younger people don't find it as rude. Young people, especially my generation and younger college and high school kids, have grown accustomed to the awkwardness of waiting for someone to get off a cell phone so that they can pick up their conversation. We are not only accustomed to it, but we accept it.

Still, there are certain people in our lives that we wouldn't interrupt a conversation with to answer a cell phone call. I see a direct correlation between the level of importance a person holds in our lives and the likeliness we will interrupt them to answer a phone call.

Clearly I am just speculating. I have no idea what was in the minds of this couple Sunday night at Starbucks. But if I had to guess it, they aren't meant for each other. If they were meant for each other, when either of their cell phones rang, they would immediately put them on silent and let the calls go to voicemail. The most memorable conversations deserve this.