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.