Never Too Old To Learn
Or Eat A Little Crow
The black Tesla was in the direct sun, all windows up, with two barking dogs inside.
I nearly lost my mind, fretting about whether they would survive. I circled and circled, hoping the people would show up.
I commiserated with several passers-by. We wracked up a few insults about unfeeling, uncaring Tesla drivers.
I took Basil back to our place, conferred with Lacey about what we could do. A friend suggested we call the Humane Society.
I penned a nasty note to tape onto their windshield.
I went back down to pin it on, sorrowing about the poor barking dogs.
Just as I was about the tape on the note, Lacey called down: “The Humane Society says the Tesla has a dog mode. It keeps the car cool and air moving.”
Luckily, I hadn’t put the note up. A woman walked by with her dog. She saw my distress.
“I have a Tesla she said,” almost simultaneously with Lacey telling me what the Humane Society told her.
I looked in the window. On the monitor screen, it said, “ I’ll be back soon. The dogs are fine. The air conditioning is on.” It showed the temperature in the car at 73º."
The woman walking by told me the car also has a camera that monitors the dog’s movements.
I don’t know whether I was more relieved or embarrassed.
“Am I glad you walked by,” I said to the young woman. She smiled, reached out and touched my arm. “You’re fine,” she meant to reassure me, “you’re a good person.”
I’ve aged out. Woefully ignorant and unprepared, for a world run by Teslas and a thousand other technologies.



Wow! What a story! Never knew.