Today we took another step into the 21st century. Our alarm system was acting up. The technician came Wednesday for a look and decided we needed a new controller. He arrived today and did some more testing and concluded that there was a problem with the telephone line. We knew there were problems with that. We had repairs done early in the week. The AT&T guy said that we had too many old handsets on the line. That is true. Then the alarm guy said that an alternative would be to install a wireless phone to replace the land line. That sounded expensive.

Then we got to thinking. We almost never get personal calls on that land line. We get several robocalls per day. We don't even answer it any more because a real person will leave a call back message. The only reason we really have it is to provide the required communication link for the alarm system. For that privilege we pay $42 per month. Anyway, when it is all said and done we net a $26 per month saving going to the wireless system. So it was with some sad feelings (not really) that I called AT&T and told them to disconnect the line. It had been in service since we moved here 38 years ago. So we bid adieu to 281-480-2507. May your next owner treat you well.

Today's photo shows the new wireless phone attached to the alarm controller box. It turns out that many people don't have land lines any more. Our kids don't. Our friends don't. And now neither do we. What other goodies are waiting for us in the 21st century?