Have you ever driven your car on a hot summer day with the windows open? It takes getting used to. Sometimes we have to do it by choice. One of my friends drives his BMW in the middle of the winter with the top down and the heat on. Although, amazingly, he says he never gets cold. I wish I had his problem sometimes.
In my case it was because today one of my cars was stalling at stop signs when I drove it with the air conditioner on. Now I'm nervous it might stall at the wrong time. Yikes. I picture worst case scenarios like sliding backward on a steep hill or the car stopping while driving on the highway….To start the healing process I got the oil changed, and now I want to bring it to my local Greek mechanic to have him take a look. He is honest, but I still wonder if he can diagnose/fix the problem, and whether it is worth it to fix. The car is eleven years old with 160,000 miles. A good run so far, but having a local car that's paid off can be useful, but not so much for dates.
Meanwhile, driving my Camry earlier, I realized that too often we are disconnected from people and the world. How often have you seen someone almost get hit by a car because they were either walking while looking down at their phone, or had their earphones turned up and totally missed something. Those are times that our choices could be life threatening, but how about just plain conversation? We're raising a generation of pokemon searching, downward phone staring children who can't read, write, or even initiate conversation. I think it's a real disservice, and in the long run bad for our memories. We're over relying on GPS instead of using our B.R.A.I.N.S. and I've heard of people driving their cars into rivers, because they followed the GPS and didn't use common sense. Wake up people and look up. I'm sitting/standing right here.
Why text me when we could just talk? How many times have you had a miscommunication because things got lost in translation when you texted? and lets not get started on things like texting and driving. Also, do we really need virtual reality when the regular type is just fine. In addition, to the people in Germany who read my blog earlier, were GPS's really changed to have men's voices instead of women's because some Germans were less likely to follow a woman's driving recommendations? can someone please let me know if this true.
Anyway, back to the car. When I drove it earlier I smelled and heard everything. When we drive with the radio on, the windows closed and our minds somewhere else, the disconnect begins. I may be into listening to Fresh Air on NPR or WCBS radio, but what about the world outside?
When I started to listen and smell the outside world I experienced both the good and the bad. There was the pungent smell of car exhausts and the cacophony of trucks, but also a cooling breeze and the warmth of the sun. Although to be fair I did sweat quite a bit too.
In many ways it's the difference between going to sleep with the air conditioner on and hearing the evening sounds of crickets and squirrels, but also the morning whine of cars and buses passing by. Life is filled with pros and cons.
I also want to mention that we may not have all the money we need, but there are ways to be fulfilled in other ways. The warmth of the sun on a not too hot day, the refreshing coolness of pool or ocean swim. The sounds of a free concert outside and laughter of children. The touch of a loved one or warm embrace will/can never be duplicated by a machine. I hope.
Life Lesson 110: Life is short so don't be afraid to seize the day, and with that truly listen. Listen to each other when we speak instead of focusing on your phones. Listen to our environment and all that it has to offer the good and the bad. Experience the beauty of nature before the coming of winter. Experience each other and once in a while drive with top down, the music off, and just for a moment, live in the moment because in the scheme of things that's really what life is all about. Moments.
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