I bet your town wasn't even 20 !$%*! across at the widest section. And were the laws of physics such back then that no matter which direction you walked you were always going uphill?
Actually we do still use modems and they pretty much look like they did back when us old-timers first came down from the trees. The only difference is they are MUCH faster and they stay connected ALL the time. NO more "Beep a deep beep beep boop - Screeeeee - whoooooooshhhh." anymore. I can also remember when you would sometimes get a busy signal and would have to try again and again and again. (early Compuserve anyone?). I also had to walk 20 !$%*! to school uphill both ways and it snowed all year 'round.