Driving in the ‘ol days? Remember trying to refold a map or hand cranking a window down and up (cranking a car, if you are really old) ….. two keys for a car ….. being able to slide over on the bench seat and sit next to your boyfriend while he drove, cuddling at the drive-in (never been to a drive-in?), having three in the front (four in front is “country”)? Boy, there were so many good things about cars in th’ ol’ days, from getting around town to just simply taking a drive in the country on a Sunday afternoon while listening to Carmen Cavallaro (a musician you’ve probably never heard of), if your car had a radio and if it worked, I kinda’ miss those good ol’ days when a car was a luxury, when most folks had only one car, when a “stick shift” on the floor was standard and nobody had air conditioning …. some cars you could partially prop open the windshield! And they were fun to drive …. with a clutch and a gear shift! Know where the headlight dimmer switch was? How ‘bout a “choke”? Rumble seat? Speedometer that only went to 80? Inner tubes? Gas was 10-15 cents a gallon …. really was! Yep, those were th’ good ol’ days …. And they were good! Life was a lot less hectic!
Today, life is so much faster. Have you driven a new car lately? Brmmmm! Brmmmm! Actually, they are more akin to a computer with a steering wheel .….. all meant to make drivers and passengers comfy even if being totally confounded with the plethora of “things” that can be or are controlled. I suspect only an absolutely dedicated owner with lots of idle time or a true Geek can begin to master, appreciate and remember all “th’ stuff” cars can do! Which button do I push to make the shade go up on the rear window? Shade? Rear window?
Today, dashboards, overheads and between the seats consoles with lights and pushbuttons control everything except the drivers attention ….. and even that requirement may soon be just another thing of the past as AI (Artificial Intelligence, for those of my generation … know anyone who exhibits AI?) becomes a reality eliminating the need for a driver altogether. Well, the good side is that my young girlfriend … at my age, all my girlfriends are young … and I will be able to sit side by side and “live it up” … uh huh, yes indeed … while we are being driven in my AI limo!
Just think, order some pleasing music, tell the AI limo where you want to go and when you need to be there, then hang on and suffer fits of sheer terror as your 500 horsepower computer on wheels navigates traffic on an 8 lane California thru-way, the massive spaghetti junctions of Interstate highways, merging on to a high speed raceway, the streets of Manhattan, passes a left lane hugger on the right …. and at night, as well! Wonder if the AI car will blink its lights or blow its horn? Or engage in expletive road rage with other AI cars? WOW!
Our cars….…ain’t they grand? Or gonna be? Hmmm,…..?
Great Post!
Remember when a headlight replacement would fit any car?