I had a very scary moment the other day. In fact, for a few hours, I had to deal with an intense feeling of dread.

Lying on the couch in the early morning as I am wont to do, I noticed something funny on the television set. I had made my way downstairs at some point in the night so ESPN could help solve my insomnia.

As I started to stir, I noticed something funny about the screen. The highlights from the previous night’s basketball and hockey games had given way to a few squiggly green lines.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to stave off the inevitable panic. Once I got my bearings, I managed to confirm my worst fears. The cable box had died.

Normally, this would only send me into a small-scale tizzy, but a couple of things lined up against an easy solution.

First off, the cable company has closed its Hanover office, which means I would have to run to Gettysburg or York to get a replacement. Secondly, this happened over the weekend with a busy week ahead, making plans for the trip pretty difficult.

The development got my mind thinking about a phenomenon called “cord cutting.” This is what people so when they get rid of their cable or satellite package and find their entertainment from other sources.

At first, the thought of not having cable television gives me the heebie jeebies. But, last year, I purchased a Roku box which allows me to access tons of online sources right through my TV. With just a few subscriptions, I can get all of our TV shows and still save a bit of money.

Only two obstacles exist. I would lose access to a ton of sports if I cut the cord. Plus, we would have to wait until the day after the shows aired to watch them. That might not sound like a big deal, but routine plays a huge role in my enjoyment of my favorite TV shows.

I have had a ton of evening commitments the past few weeks so have had to get creative in order to keep up on my shows. But when I don’t have anything to do, I really want to watch those episodes as they air.

Few things make me happier than sitting on the couch or sliding under the covers to watch TV. I love seeing the creativity and comedy of my shows as it happens. I’m not one of those people who gets all up in arms if I hear “spoilers” before I see a show. I just like to be in on the joke first.

After a whole day of worrying, I came home from an event and started to think about how I would fit getting a replacement cable box into my week. I could bring the one from the basement to the living room for a temporary fix, but had to hit the road eventually.

But before I did that, I grabbed the remote, said a silent prayer and hit the power button. Apparently, the box just needed a day to rest. And I didn’t have to make any big decisions.