I have to tell a story of a story to ask a question.

Today I was driving to Lowe’s to get some things that I needed for some repairs around the house. On the way I passed a gentleman who was probably close to my age walking along the side of the road in the opposite direction I was traveling. Not a normal thing to see out where we live, but I really didn’t think anything about it at the time.

On the way back from Lowe’s about 40 minutes later, I passed the gentleman again further up the road. For whatever reason I turned around, went back and asked if he needed a lift.

He said a lift would be greatly appreciated. So I asked if he was heading into town (town being Pea Ridge). He said no, a little farther. He was trying to get to Cassville, Missouri. 30 miles away. But however far I could take him would be appreciated.

No big deal to drive him to Cassville. It’s my day off and I really had nothing else on my plate for the day aside from chores around the house.

We got to talking along the way, mostly about tattoos since mine were visible as I was wearing a sleeveless shirt.

And then I asked why he was walking? And why so far?

He had an interesting story to tell.

Friday, he and his family were at the park in Bentonville when he started having chest pains. An ambulance was called, and he was admitted to the hospital. The doctors figured out he was having arrhythmia which triggered the chest pains. They were keeping him over the weekend and possibly into this week.

After having a heart specialist come in, it was determined he had some issue with tachycardia (which eerily enough is the issue that my buddy Tory was having). The hospital did some other tests and then released him early.

At which point he realized he didn’t have a way to contact his wife or son. No land line at home. His wife had his cell phone, which was apparently powered off. And he couldn’t remember anyone’s phone number because they were all programmed into the cellphone he didn’t have with him. So he figured he’d just start walking, and hopefully somewhere along the way a family member might pass by him on his journey, or someone might stop and pick him up along the way.

I delivered him to his destination, and he said his thanks. Then I headed back home.

On the way home his story got me thinking: do I really remember anyone’s phone number? Especially since everyone is just on speed-dial via their cellphone contact information these days.

I do know the Husbear’s cell number (not that he ever answers the blasted thing if I call), the home land line (not that the phone’s ringer is on), the business phone numbers, and my parental unit’s land line (in Florida). But that’s it. I’d be totally screwed if I had to call anyone else without the assistance of my contact list.

Granted, my phone contacts at least sync with my gmail account, so I could log onto any computer and at least look up phone numbers as needed. But how many people have their phones set up to do that?

Do you have the phone numbers that you would need to call if you had to get in contact with someone committed to memory?