I'm not one for status symbols, it's part of my Yankee charm. But there's one thing in the world that I always wanted. And it's just about the stupidest thing ever. For the longest time I wanted a cooler area code.
Are you still with me? I hope so, because this is only going to sound stupider and stupider.
See, when I lived in Southern California back in the day, I lived in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles. It's referred to, often in a derogatory tone, as "The Valley", to distinguish it from Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Santa Monica ... the cool places to live.
The Valley, sadly, is not cool.
And, like cars, clothes and physical appearance, area codes are also a status symbol in Los Angeles.
Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Santa Monica et al have either the "323" or "310" area codes, while the Valley is "818". (Funny story, I actually witnessed a co-worker cry when she found out they were turning her neighborhood into a "323" from a "310". 100% true. The area code split actually inspired the Simpsons episode A Tale of Two Springfields a few years ago, it was that controversial.)
The Valley is where Alicia Silverstone's character in Clueless goes to the really lame party and then gets mugged at the liquor store with the giant clown sign. In fact, my cousin lived around the corner from there, seriously. When I saw Circus Liquor for the first time it was like seeing a celebrity. It was actually even better than seeing a celebrity, because the clown was taller than I expected.
The Valley was also home to Valley Girl, and the whole "as if", "gag me with a spoon" speak of the 1980s. Apparently this originated from The Sherman Oaks Galleria. Ironically that's the same mall where John Conner meets the Terminator in Terminator 2.
Anyway, the term "818" is also used as slang occasionally. In Doug Liman's film Go a character actually says, "Don't get 818 on me." instead of "Don't wimp out on me." In fact, I think there's a similar line in Liman's other big film, Swingers.
So you can see how a single dude in his early 20s living in Los Angeles might want a cooler phone number.
Alas, I never got that number.
Until this week.
As I mentioned earlier, Skype internet phone service works in Dubai again. And not only can you call computer-to-computer, you can pay extra to call telephone-to-computer or vice versa. We decided to get a telephone number, in case our family or friends can't get Skype to work at home.
But sadly Skype doesn't offer a "207" area code - the one area code for the entire state of Maine, where our family and many of our friends are.
I guess we have to pick a different area code.
Hmmm.
Yup, now I finally have my three-one-oh area code. Even if I'm thirty years old, married, and living in the Middle East ... I feel a little cooler. |
