AuburnChick's Adventures

Dear Google,

I’ve got a beef with you, and I’d like you to listen up.

Yesterday afternoon, I was innocently watching an NFL playoff game.  I had been distracted, but I looked up when a commercial started.

It was YOUR commercial…for the Nexus 7…only I didn’t know this when the commercial began.

All I saw was a young man receiving a text message from his mom about his dog not doing well.

The rest of the commercial depicted the boy’s attempt to get home, with a closing shot of the dog waiting.

I’ve gotta tell you something.

You made me cry.

You see, I lost my poor Aubie last May.

I connected with that commercial because my own children, Rooster and Chicky, last got to see Aubie when they came home from college for Easter.

I took pictures of them with her that weekend.  We didn’t know if she would make it before they came home for the summer.  Chicky attended school seven hours away, so the drive was long.

As it happened, Aubie’s health declined rapidly after they returned to school, and we lost her unexpected…after phone calls to the kids about what was to transpire.

As the commercial ended, I was crying…and I. Could. Not. Stop.

Rooster, now living at home, looked over at me and couldn’t understand why.

It wasn’t like I chose to cry.

I know Aubie was only a dog…except that she wasn’t.

The feelings of loss for my precious fur baby still run deeply, and though I’m fine most days, your commercial dredged up those agonizing few weeks before we lost her.

Do you really think I’d want to buy a phone after having my heart pulled that way?

I teach Intensive Reading, and my classes are finishing up a unit on Author’s Purpose.  Instruction has included information about how advertisers get us to buy their products, and your strategy falls right into line with what I’ve taught my kiddos.

Except that I think it was too much.

If you wanted me to feel something, then you win.  You accomplished that.

If you wanted me to buy something…so sorry…but you lose.

I still love Aubie so much, but I really don’t want to be reminded of the companionship I lost when she passed away.

Next time, try evoking happy feelings.  Those will work much better for you.

Sincerely,

Someone Who Upgrades Her Phone Regularly and Knows the Game When It Comes to Advertising

Filed under: Pets, This-n-That | Tagged: advertising |