Fax of Life

You can’t talk to a fax machine. You can’t tell a fax machine to stop ringing you. Fax machines have very limited understanding.

Have you ever answered the phone to hear that wonderful fax tone ringing in your ear? You just know that there is very little you can do. You also know that the machine will do its duty by ringing you constantly until it gets the fax through so you’ll be answering and hanging up several more times before the machine gives up. I’ve had that happening this morning. I’ve answered the phone to be greeted by a fax machine about 4 times so far.

I think the most annoying instance of having a fax machine calling us was when Emily was just a few days old around eight and a half years ago. After a night of broken sleep we had finally dozed off just before 6:00am when the phone started ringing.

I cranked up our computer, opened the fax software and received the fax on about its third try. It was a tradesman in Kalgoorlie trying to send an order through for building supplies.

I sent him a return fax which stated our thoughts on the matter in a very down to earth kind of manner. I wanted to help him to understand that we had a new baby and were already sleep deprived. We had no need for his help in this regard. I suggested that he checked numbers more carefully before trying to send faxes at that hour. I also let him know that he needn’t bother replying to my fax.

Posted by Rodney Olsen



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About the author

Rodney Olsen

Rodney is a husband, father, cyclist, blogger and podcaster from Perth Western Australia.

He has worked in radio at Perth's media ministry Sonshine for over 25 years and has previously worked at ministries such as Compassion Australia and Bible Society.

The views he expresses here are his own.

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