You can blame this week’s column on staff writer Kevin Mertens. He mentioned me in his column, so now I can mention him in mine.

He is right about me, of course. I am not a big fan of electronic devices, and I do like visiting with people in person much, much more than over the phone or texting or other impersonal ways.

Yes, I am not a big fan of smart phones and all that goes with them.

But yeah, I have one and I use it. But not as much as most folks do. Or at least, I don’t think I do.

My buddy has a flip phone. He thinks smart phones are dumb. All he wants a phone for is to call someone or have them call him, he says. He is one person who is on his phone even less than I am.

I sometimes go long periods of time not using my smart phone. Most of the time that is on weekends, where occasionally I do not even know where my phone is at.

It is especially true when we are camping in the summer. I put the phone away somewhere and enjoy the camping, hiking, kayaking, etc., and I try very hard to get others to do the same thing.

I used to be more successful at that. I actually had the audacity to demand my grandchildren and other guests at camp stow the phone and enjoy the experience of being in the woods and on the lake. That tactic does not work as well these days. I still encourage it, and I have a little success with it, but I have given up demanding it.

My son just told me that he and my daughter-in-law went to a friend’s 40th birthday party that had a theme of dressing up like it was an 80’s prom night. Everyone had so much fun they forgot to take photos with their phone and post anything on social media.

I applauded that. They were living life in the moment so much they didn’t need to post pictures to make it real.

A younger acquaintance of mine recently told me that she and her husband and kids have ‘no electronics Saturday.’ I had to ask her what that meant exactly.

I understand it to be that they not only put the phones away, they don’t use any electronic devices. No TV, no computers, no phones, no video games. All day on a Saturday, once a month.

Instead, they read books, play board games, do jigsaw puzzles, go for a walk, go on road trips and visit museums, parks, etc. Sometimes they do things as a family some of the day, and are on their own part of the day.

But, no electronic devices are allowed.

She said her kids have adapted to it pretty well, and almost seem to look forward to it now. I would guess that they do, however, have to check their phones a lot on Sunday to see what they missed.

I have asked this question in the past. Can you give up your phone for a day? Now I could ask, can you give up all electronic devices for a day? And do you even want to?

I used to ask about giving up your phone for a week, but I can see now that is impossible for almost everyone.

I am amazed that almost everyone, it seems, is really addicted to that smart phone. They are constantly checking it and using it for entertainment. They check their email, text messages, then TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and last, but maybe not least, their Facebook feed.

That might take you an entire Saturday to get through all that.

Then you can even watch a movie or sports or other entertainment on your phone.

It can be addictive. I know. It might be harder to give up than smoking cigarettes.

But I hope you can sometimes take a break from it all. Perhaps you can start having a no electronics Saturday. Or put the phone away for a while and go do something fun and interesting.

That goes for me, too. I have slowly been sucked in to using my phone more, and my computer(s), and watching more TV. It started during the pandemic. And, of course, it is always harder to give those things up during the winter, especially after the holidays and especially when it is cold and snowy outside.

Maybe this Saturday I will take a break from it all. Oh wait, there are NFL football games on TV. And this time they are all on regular TV and not on some streaming service.

But at least I will try and put that phone away for a while this weekend.

So, if you call me or text me, don’t get too upset if I don’t answer or get back to you right away. I will try and remember to get back to you on Monday.

Sometimes, you just should take a break and enjoy the day.

Like Horace said a long time ago, “carpe diem.” I think he was onto something.