Ever Had Fun With An Answering Machine or Voice Mail?

Answering machines and voice mail have become a way of life. That doesn’t mean we have to like them or even enjoy them, but we as a society still use them.

Because they are so prevalent but so disliked, I’ve tried to always have fun messages for people who called me.

For example, one time the message to callers was to leave name, phone number and shoe size.

You wouldn’t believe the number of people who actually left shoe sizes. One caller even explained that it depended on the style of shoe and described which shoe meant which size!

One of our pastors asked me if I had a collection of shoes I was trying to match up with people.

Years ago, the message was to leave name, phone number and favorite television show. Boy, did I have fun with that! There were some really interesting answers to that question!

A friend from church called and left his name, phone number and said his favorite show was “Baywatch.” Yep, that’s the one that featured shapely females who were somewhat scantily clad. Then there was a second call from the same man; this time he said, “Sherry, don’t tell my wife what I said about my favorite show. P-l-e-a-s-e.”

The first President Bush – George H. W. Bush – called when he was still vice president but running for president. Along with a message, he left the name of his favorite show. No, I’m not revealing what it was.

After that call, I changed the message for a while to the following: “Hi. I know you don’t like answering machines, but if the vice president of the United States can leave a message, you can, too, so please leave your name and number.”