When the limb went down and took out the phone line, I assumed the houses closer to the totally crushed line area would also not have phone service and that I did not need to call. Guess what? I am the only one without a phone . . . and I used my cell phone to call them when I figured this out.

Have you ever tried to call AT&T? It is so automated it is ridiculous, but I think I learned if you just keep pushing “0” , you will connect to an operator . . . who will tell you AT&T long distance and AT&T local are two different offices and they have secret numbers. The last part I made up.