We've entered a new era as Montanans. It's life-changing. We now have to dial the area code to reach out and touch someone.

Granted, many households are getting rid of land lines and your cellphone is smart enough to just dial for you when you click on a name. However, it's going to be an adjustment for those of us who still use the old-fashioned touchtone phones.

Remember when it was a big deal when we had to start dialing the three-digit prefix for towns? It took awhile to get used to not just dialing 3421 for The Ledger and having to add in that 827. As more people move into Montana, there have been threats of adding another area code. That will probably become a reality as well one of these days.

The fact is, everything changes. How we react to those inevitable changes — whether we drag our feet or make the best of it — is what matters most.

— Annie Wooden