
My neighbor, Irene, reported me to the HOA over my Halloween decorations—plastic skeletons and cobwebs. Less than a day later, she was at my door begging for help. Why the change of heart? You’ll see!
I’m Wendy, a retired schoolteacher and grandma, and apparently, public enemy number one in our neighborhood.
“Wendy! What are you doing?” Irene yelled, hands on hips, when she spotted me decorating.
“It’s Halloween, Irene! Same as I’ve done for 30 years.”
“But it’s so… GARISH!” she exclaimed.
I chuckled. “It’s supposed to be a little garish.”
A week later, I received an HOA letter about my decorations. Guess who complained? I called the HOA, and they said I had to remove my decor in 48 hours or face a fine. Not happening!
People Are Prisoners of Their Phones – That’s Why They’re Called Cell Phones!
Have you ever looked around a crowded café, a subway station, or even your own living room and noticed something strange? Almost everyone is glued to their phone screens. Conversations are interrupted, meals go cold, and real-life moments are traded for digital notifications. It’s almost as if people are imprisoned by their devices—hence, the clever play on words: “People are prisoners of their phones. That’s why they’re called cell phones!”
But is this just a joke, or is there some truth to it? Let’s explore how smartphones have taken over our lives, why we find it hard to put them down, and what we can do to break free from this digital prison.
The Digital Prison: Are We Really Addicted to Our Phones?

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