bombs in bottles
Some people, when dumped, take the hint. They delete your number from their phone, cry into a pint of ice cream, and go on with their lives.
Some, however, do not. They keep sending you unsolicited mail: "Come on, babe, we had a good thing going, you know you want me back." You can block their number and change your address, but somehow, they still manage to find you.
I got just such a piece of mail from an ex today. I've had whiny exes before, but this one is by far the worst.
Today's was a postcard: "Let's make it official! Come back and you can have a free iPhone 16! And 40 percent off major streaming services (with ads!) All on the nation's largest* 5G network!"
Yep: My neediest, plead-iest, won't-take-the-hint-iest ex ever is Verizon.
I ditched Verizon over two years ago for Mint Mobile. My only regret is not making the switch sooner. I cut my monthly phone bill by something like 75 percent, and Mint turned out to be more consistently reliable. Also, my available data went up: I moved from an 8G/month plan on Verizon to "unlimited" on Mint and STILL saved a ton of money.
Verizon doesn't care that I'm happier in my new relationship. Verizon just wants me back.
It's obvious from its missives, though, that Verizon never really understood me or cared to get to know me. If Verizon knew me, Verizon would know that I have never once in my life used an iPhone. If Verizon had gotten to know my family (all of whom were, at one time, on Verizon), it would know that NONE OF US has ever in our lives used an iDevice.**
...I didn't exactly choose Verizon in the first place, though. My parents set us up. My mom had had a cellular telephone for work since the late 1980s; she rode with her "current carrier" as one after another got merged into the amorphous monopolistic blob that is Verizon. I can't even remember them all: CenturyTel, CenturyOne, NextNelNoobNet....
I can't say I love everything T-Mobile (bff of Mint) is doing right now, either. But Mint and I are doing fine. Mint is there when I need it and leaves me alone otherwise; in return I make sure it has everything it needs up front once a year. It's a good dynamic for us.
But damn, Verizon. Take the hint. She's not into you, bro.
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