SMART CAR
And making my own choices.
Generally, I’m not a fan of getting a massage. I know, I know … How can that possibly be?
Well, the last time I asked myself that same question, I went against my better judgment when a friend was signing up for “the works” at the hotel spa, and I booked a Swedish massage. According to the spa menu, the Swedish massage is supposed to be gentler, but I had a sore neck for weeks, which reminded me of why I’m not a fan.
However, let me tell you a recent experience that has led me to reconsider my blanket criticism.
Remember that song, Friends in Low Places, by Garth Brooks? It was hugely popular in the 1990s and not part of the weird period when Garth was exploring his alter ego and released a rock-and-roll album as Chris Gains. Even though it was a country song, it played on all the radio stations. It would be hard to find someone who hasn’t heard it. He sings about being a good ole’ boy and feeling like an impostor at a country club affair. I was remembering this song as I drove my friend’s Lexus on our way to spend the weekend at her house in High Hampton, North Carolina.
Just so you know, we both would claim that we identify more with the good ole’ boys than the country club set, but neither of us feels like an impostor. From the outside looking in, the country club set can seem clicky and standoffish, but giving it a chance, we’ve met some wonderful friends. We would both rather spend the weekend with real people who are flawed and honest—a good kind of people. Our kind of people. As the old saying goes … birds of a feather flock together.
So, we were on hour six of the eight-hour drive. I was behind the wheel and feeling a little fatigued when she said, “Press this button if you want a massage.” Just like my aversion to massage, generally I’m not a fan of electronics, appliances, or cars that have lots of buttons or features, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to press the button. But I did, and…
It was AMAZING!
With the touch of a button, my seat began to vibrate, and I heard whooshing sounds as I was surrounded by cool air and massaging rollers moved up and down my back and thighs. Yes, please! Press it again! My strike against massage was officially over. I was even questioning my resistance to trading in my old car for a luxury car, as my son had been suggesting for years.
Change is hard, and the older I get, the harder it is. I’m now at a crossroads. I could be “right” and list example after example that proves that new isn’t always better … or I could embrace innovation and enjoy a car ride without having a sore back!
It’s true that I love my grandma’s electric stove and refrigerator for their amazing reliability and longevity, but this car was not my grandpa’s Oldsmobile! I may not be ready for smart appliances, but I may be ready to make an exception for this wonderful smart car.
