Life Without A Smartphone

I am bereft.

Opening the mail early in the year 2026, I find a crisp letter from AT&T informing me that my landline will soon disappear. Copper wiring is obsolete, they tell me, while cheerfully offering to sell me alternative products and services.

For most of my life I had relied solely on a landline, which anchored me to an easy chair from which a caller invariably had my full attention. Never was I driving, cooking, shopping or bathing while conversing.

A few years back, friends and family insisted that I acquire a phone for the car, just in case. To their unanimous disdain I purchased a flip phone designed for seniors. It’s a marvel. It has excellent reception and is simple to use. It’s red, so I can find it in my purse. I use it to talk to people. I do not text, with rare exceptions, like receiving those annoying little access codes from the bank. It costs $28.53 per month.

Some time back I read of a trend. Certain CEOs, genuine captains of industry, were shedding their smartphones and returning to flip phones, to save time. For those who can do so, I recommend it.