I don’t know if there are social graces when it comes to texting and dropped calls; but, I have solutions to offer. 

      
    I play tag with my contacts ẅ̤ḧ̤ë̤n̤̈ our phone call ï̤s̤̈ rudely interrupted by a dropped call. There I am talking into my phone and the other person is not even there. Ah, hello? Are you still there? 

    So what happens? I end my call and promptly hit redial and immediately s̤̈ë̤n̤̈ẗ̤ into their voicemail because that person is trying to call me back and leaves a voicemail for me. And this could go on for awhile. ẅ̤ö̤n̤̈d̤̈ë̤r̤̈ ẅ̤ḧ̤ÿ̤ ï̤ ḧ̤ä̤v̤̈ë̤ g̤̈r̤̈ë̤ÿ̤ ḧ̤ä̤ï̤r̤̈? 

    Unless we know a better way. What if we agree that whomever initiates the call is the only one to redial, if necessary? 

    Imagine. No more panic or frustration. I call you. The call drops. ẅ̤ä̤ï̤ẗ̤ f̤̈ö̤r̤̈ m̤̈ÿ̤ c̤̈ä̤l̤̈l̤̈! You call me. I will wait for you to call back. Simple. 

    Next. Text messages. How does one end the freaking session? I don’t know if the other person is waiting for my next reply or waiting for me to say goodbye ä̤l̤̈r̤̈ë̤ä̤d̤̈ÿ̤. 

    So, I was thinking, maybe we need a guideline or two. 

    If I text you, I want to know that my message has been received. If it’s not an emergency, I am totally ok with a thumbs up, an ok, kiss my grits or s̤̈ö̤m̤̈ë̤ẗ̤ḧ̤ï̤n̤̈g̤̈. 

    ï̤f̤̈ ï̤ ẗ̤ë̤ẍ̤ẗ̤ ÿ̤ö̤ṳ̈ f̤̈ï̤r̤̈s̤̈ẗ̤ ä̤n̤̈d̤̈ ÿ̤ö̤ṳ̈ ä̤r̤̈ë̤ b̤̈ṳ̈s̤̈ÿ̤, s̤̈ä̤ÿ̤ s̤̈ö̤. ï̤f̤̈ ï̤ ẗ̤ë̤ẍ̤ẗ̤ f̤̈ï̤r̤̈s̤̈ẗ̤, ï̤ c̤̈ä̤n̤̈ ë̤n̤̈d̤̈ ï̤ẗ̤.

    ö̤f̤̈ẗ̤ë̤n̤̈ ẗ̤ï̤m̤̈ë̤s̤̈, ï̤ ḧ̤ä̤v̤̈ë̤ n̤̈ö̤ ï̤d̤̈ë̤ä̤ ï̤f̤̈ ẗ̤ḧ̤ë̤ p̤̈ë̤r̤̈s̤̈ö̤n̤̈ ï̤ ẅ̤ä̤s̤̈ ẗ̤ë̤ẍ̤ẗ̤ï̤n̤̈g̤̈ ẅ̤ï̤ẗ̤ḧ̤ ï̤s̤̈ s̤̈ẗ̤ï̤l̤̈l̤̈ ẗ̤ḧ̤ë̤r̤̈ë̤ ö̤r̤̈ ḧ̤ä̤s̤̈ l̤̈ë̤f̤̈ẗ̤. d̤̈ö̤n̤̈’ẗ̤ j̤̈ṳ̈s̤̈ẗ̤ l̤̈ë̤ä̤v̤̈ë̤ m̤̈ë̤ “ḧ̤ä̤n̤̈g̤̈ï̤n̤̈g̤̈ ẗ̤ë̤n̤̈”. ï̤f̤̈ ÿ̤ö̤ṳ̈ l̤̈ë̤ä̤v̤̈ë̤ s̤̈ä̤ÿ̤ b̤̈ÿ̤ë̤. 

    ï̤ s̤̈ä̤ÿ̤”ö̤ṳ̈ẗ̤”. 😉🖖