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What happened to the days when we didn't have much, but we sure had plenty? Life was so simple then. You didn't have to worry about gas, you just jumped on Ole Nelly and road off to the General Store, got your supplies for the week from Mr. Drucker, went home to fresh baked bread and a bowl of beans, and all was good!. All that was needed to get Ole Thunder moving was a little love, some water and hay and you were well on your way. The only barrel back then you had to worry about was the one kept full of drinking water from the creek down the road. The climate was either hot or cold; no one knew or cared about global warming or Al Gore who then was just a sparkle in the stars. You grew your own food, went to Church in the same building your kids were being schooled, and there was a community of people that gave real meaning to love thy neighbor.

Yeah, it was sure nice back in the day when we didn't have much but we sure had plenty.  If you were lucky, there was one phone line that went in and and out of town.  I say lucky, because some folks had to rely on a telegram.  Either way,  Mrs. Cartwright was always there with a smile, anytime of day to send that telegram, answer the call and hook you up. There was No need for prompts, because you were promptly connected. Prompts was something you did to get the mule and goats going and that was about it.

AND SPEAKING ABOUT THOSE PROMPTS... 

Things are sure different today...  Yes indeedy! Now, you're asked to call a company "promptly" if you have any questions about your bills or customer service questions. The object of the game is to first reach a person. That can take some doing. Trying to reach a person in a company is like riding a hay barrel to hell. The days of Mrs. Cartwright are long gone my buckaroos. She is now called Receptionist. 

Hell, I remember a time when there was a lovely receptionist on the other end taking your calls, putting you through to the appropriate parties and all was a real Walgreens commerical. Now, even the receptionist has a receptionist. You know the one, the one who has that talk dirty to me voice on the other end of which loves to repeat herself in many different ways asking you the same question over and over and over again before you can get to what is just another voice activated prompt.

Yes, how times have changed... All these companies that are crying poverty because sales are down. Blaming the economy.  How about for shame on yourselves.  It's not the economy you swashbucklers! It's how you're doing business that is turning your customer base away.  Mr. Big Company should really reconsider their customer service departments. I remember when O meant Operator and that was all it took to put you through.  Now, companies got real smart and try to trick you into finding their  O spot  that every company has, because they are all Prompted Up now and god forbid you should actually find a real person that works there. Leading into finally, the true meaning of good ole American customer Service and outsourcing...

How about outsourcing?  Back in the day when we didn't have much but we sure had plenty, we were plentiful with outsourcing.  We outsourced our lumber into the next town, if there was some nice rose water, we could get it from the next town to give our dear mothers for her birthday, life was sure simple then, and it was all outsourced to the next town over, of whom by the way ALL SPOKE IN ENGLISH.

You gotta love that one...

BUT my all time favorite.... is the I Can't Speak English Guy on the other end of the phone.  This usually happens when I am pulling my hair out of my head because my computer has failed me. So like yourself,  I call for customer service assistance and I Can't Speak English Guy FINALLY gets on the phone after about a half hour of prompts and patiently waiting who obviously has never in his life seen a computer, nor has any idea about the product you are inquiring about has to refer to a manuel that he himself can't read or understand because he is I Can't Speak English Guy.  You know the one, the guy you spend most of the time saying excuse me... what did you say....... can  you speak engish so I can understand you?

What is up with that?  

How many times have you called the number for computer assistance, just as an example and got Mohammad on the phone who lives in Bum F@#$! India somewhere across the globe; or better yet, my favorite, the non speaking Chinese guy who you can't even understand.  

I think Mr. Big Company does this intentionally to stop us from calling and complaining altogether. These big companies don't have time for complaints, nor do they care, cause if they did, they would have English speaking customer service people answering the phones, instead of prompting us to death hoping we will just hang up, and if you are one of the lucky ones to get through, you're luck to get someone who knows about the product of which you initially called about...   

O yes, life was grand, when we didn't have much, but we sure had plenty. Right now, i am plenty fed up!