Restoring my Faith: Story of a Blackberry

Back in 2007, I was happy girl. I loved talking on the phone. I loved texting. I loved the phone that allowed me to talk and text. It was such a trusty phone, and always treated me very well. I am not sure I could have asked for a better phone! It never broke (amazing!), it always behaved and enjoyed every ounce of gossip that came through it's line.

This was it, an LG Verizon phone. The front little square had a picture of shooting stars and a moon, which matched the inside screen (when it wasn't a picture of one of the 209409284 children that I had babysat that year!). That phone went through WWIII and was dropped, kicked, thrown and it never looked bad. You would have thought I kept it in a plastic bubble.

However, there was a part of me that wanted more. It wanted better. It wanted state of the art. I wanted email to my phone. I wanted internet on my phone. I wanted more buttons. I wanted... dare I say it... a Blackberry.

Did I need a Blackberry? Heck no. I am the reason that Verizon came up with the "get a new phone for every 2 years." By year 1.5, I had the new phone itch and just wanted bigger and better and newer. I had to get a Blackberry! For my own sanity!

I purchased this bad boy... the best Blackberry that Verizon had to offer. The price, a little steep - but I was in love and thought it was totally worth every minute of my being! The plan, again - a little spendy, I didn't care! I lived at home.... what was the problem?! (I thought this a lot while living at home... dumb dumb girl I was!)


Long story short, I had this phone for less than a year and I wanted to chuck it into Lake Erie every chance I had. It would drop calls. It would randomly call people and not hang up the call. I would have to take the battery out atleast twice a week to reset it from it freezing. It was the worst decision of my life. (Well, not the worst... but you get the point!) Was it functionable? Yes. It was. Did it serve a purpose? Yes. It did. Was it worth the $120+/month that I paid - hell to the no. Every time it did something stupid, I'd drive to Verizon on Tuttle Crossing and make them investigate. Every time, "There's nothing wrong with the phone ma'am." (Sure.)

At long last, I had had it. I took it back to Verizon - told them I didn't want it and wanted to go back to a regular old flip phone with NO bells and whistles. Nothing. I missed my flip phone that was made of steel. I told tall Mr. Red Headed Verizon Man with an attitude, "I just don't see myself having a need for a Blackberry anymore and I should have just stayed with a normal phone." His response: "Well why did you get a Blackberry to begin with if you never truly NEEDED it." Okay listen... Mr. Customer Service - I'm trying not to chuck my phone directly between your eye balls! I calmly reply, "I thought it was cool. Okay? Is that the response you're looking for?"

After he told me that that particular week to go back to a regular phone would cost me (sit down for this part), $300. Huh? Seriously? But if I wait until the following month, it was only $100. Fine, I'll be back. I'll suffer for another month. I had lost all hope in Blackberries, and vowed NEVER to get one again. EVER! My cousin and I both made a promise to each other and the Blackberries in the world that we would never purchase one again and that they were straight from the devil. (aka: Devilberries.)

That next month, I was back there when the doors opened and was ready to meet Mr. Customer Service to spend $100, rather than the $300 on a regular flip phone. This flip phone was nice, the LG Voyager. It worked well. It sent texts. It allowed me to talk. It had a camera. All in all, great phone.

Until........

Two weeks ago. The darn touch screen quit working! Everything I had to do could only be done on the inside flip and that was kind of annoying. But, I'll suffer. My upgrade is in August, and it still works - I'll manage to survive another month and a half without raising chaos.

Last night, my dear sister's phone broke.

Jump in the car, and head on over to a Verizon store. She decides to purchase the Android Ally. Pretty sweet phone! It does a lot and I won't lie - the Google map on it is fantastic! It is very fancy. After she bought her phone, the guy asked me if I had an interest in looking at anything. I said no. I wasn't going to spend the money and that it would have to wait. (Self control, I don't have it often, but when I do - it's a big deal!) He asks what I am looking for when my contract ran out, and all I could see was the rack of Blackberries. I was drooling. I wanted... the... Blackberry!

I look at the Android Ally that Kate had just purchased. It's nice... but is it ME?

It is similar to my current broken phone, and it's got the keyboard I really like. But that darn touch screen - I'm scared it will break like my current broken phone. Maybe. I'll think about it.

How about the Blackberry Tour? Do I like that one? It's a little "manly" for my liking but still very pretty at the same time. It's shiney... it's new... and well, it's the same phone my Dad has. Nope - don't want it. Don't want to match my Dad.

Finally, he brings me...
Something I couldn't resist. A deal I couldn't refuse.

I bought it.

I have no self control.

I am restoring my faith in Blackberry, and hoping I am not disappointed. Please keep your fingers crossed that this pretty violet beauty lasts me two years until I get the itch for a new phone again...

At this point: my Cousin and I both have Blackberries again. We both suck. We have not an ounce of fight when it comes to temptation and pretty things.