Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t own a smartphone. Why would I keep a phone that would only make me look dumb (as when I try to type on somebody else’s using that impossibly tiny “keyboard”)?

But yesterday, as I was driving on I-95, I passed a sign that said something along the lines of “TRAVEL DELAYS POSSIBLE.” Only the “T” was burnt out. As today is the birthday of Maurice Ravel, I am doubly sorry not to have been able to document it. Then again, I could have wound up like one of those idiots who stands too close to the edge of the Grand Canyon in order to get the perfect selfie.

Ravel was fascinated by gadgets and lived as a semi-recluse. In all likelihood, he would have been transfixed by the smartphone. But if he had been, I’ll bet he wouldn’t have accomplished as much as he did. He would have had a hell of a Facebook page, though.

Happy birthday, Maurice Ravel.

PHOTO: If I owned a smartphone, it would look just like this.