I guess the brain surgeon should not go to the concert when he is on call...what did they ever do before cell phones?
Slept in the hospital in shifts.
That was my first reaction.
Used the beeper on the 'vibrate' mode.
Left word with their service about where they'd be. Their service could then call the concert hall, restaurant, movie, etc. if need be.
I've always resisted getting a cell. I considered them a luxury item and I've always been practical about the "need" vs. "want" thing.
Then my son became a diabetic. A brittle diabetic. For a year we were chained to each other's sides. He was 11 and wanted to get away from mom from time to time. But my husband couldn't even take his own son hiking, just in case they needed to contact me for instructions.
So I broke down and got a cell. Now I can go to the store by myself, hubby and I can go out to dinner and a movie once in a Blue moon, and the kid can go to his friend's house with it. It's saved us time and time again.
I can see how folks waiting years for a heart transplant would go nuts sitting by the phone month after month. And, now that my daughter's a teen, I don't let her leave the house without it. (I remember sitting in my car, with the front end dangling over a cliff for hours until someone stumbled onto my situation and winched me out of it. A cell would've been nice right about that time. Geez, 17 is a stupid age!!)
But when I'm in a "quite" place, that sucker is set on vibrate and I immediately relocate someplace where I can talk without bothering anyone.