Insant Gratification My Ass...

I've noticed something recently, maybe you have too. In our culture of instant gratification, suddenly I'm the one who's supposed to be doing the gratifying.
   I got a call just now from one of my friends, who asked, rather impatiently it seemed to me, if I had gotten his e-mail. I've been working this morning, and I turn off e-mail when I'm working, don't need the 'ding' of incoming Viagra discounts distracting me. So, concerned that maybe Earthlink was dropping messages, I asked when he sent it, thinking it was yesterday, last week, something like that.
   An hour ago.
   The jackass was calling me, asking if I'd read his e-mail yet, when he'd only just sent it. Now, I know I'm 'between assignments' currently, but that doesn't mean I have nothing to do but sit around all day waiting for e-mails from this guy. And it certainly doesn't mean that when I do read his message that I have to reply immediately.
   Guess what the e-mail was about? A potential barbeque. A month from now. Grrrrr....
   I have a writing partner who absolutely, positively WILL NOT LEAVE A PHONE MESSAGE. It's the most annoying thing in the world. She calls, and if I don't answer the phone she'll call back. Twice. Almost demanding that I pick up the phone right then. Sometimes she'll switch phones and try again, so I'll get six calls instead of three, and not a single Goddamn message. Not one.
   What the hell? Did these people get a memo saying my life operated at their convenience? I don't do this to people, what makes them think they can do it to me?
   Fair warning, if you call and I don't answer leave a message. If you send me an e-mail and it takes me a while to get back to you, that's the way the world works. And if that makes me a grumpy old man, then find me some liniment and hair cream, I'll be an old man.