The daughter of a friend here in town has enlisted in the Army. She leaves for Basic Training later this month, and yesterday (Saturday) they gave a big going-away party for her. It was mostly extended family, but -- perhaps because I'm a veteran -- I received an invitation and I made certain to attend. I've never seen or heard anything to suggest that the young lady has a "boyfriend," but awhile after I arrived a young man showed up and, thereafter, the young lady seemed to spend all her time in his company. I couldn't help noticing that, at one point, the young lady went off to the table where all the women seemed to have congregated. As soon as she walked away from him, the young man's cell phone came out. He alternated between the screen and glancing over at the table where the women were doing whatever it is that women do in large groups. As soon as the young lady headed back in his direction, the cell phone was put away.
I suppose it should be viewed as a positive that he was at least polite enough to not be absorbed in the phone while in the company of the young lady, but it just struck me as a sign of the times when a guy is spending the afternoon with a pretty girl (she IS attractive) and the first thing on his mind if she wanders away for a couple of minutes is to check his phone. I had my phone with me, but it never occurred to me to check for messages while the party was going on.
