I am not a car person. Yes, I love the lines of a vintage jag or a cute mustang, but all the sedans of 2025 look the same to me and the colors from any one manufacturer are limited. I did find out that you could have a car wrapped recently, which makes the surface a possible point of display. However, it cost $3K -$6K and I would rather buy a piece of art and support an artist. But our car was beyond repairing after faithful duty and it was time.
That was why it was so unexpected to drive away in my new Hyundai Limited Edition Sonata and experience such pleasure. It turns out it is all about the technology. I never had to take the key out of my pocket. Just grabbing the door handle unlocked this auto. The seat was set back for easy entry, but adjusts automatically to my own comfort position when I shut the door.
I pressed a button and there was no roar or throbbing of engines, I grant you, but the quiet of the hybrid as the screen scrolled alive with a little tinkling theme and the message greeting me personally by name was a nice touch. As I drove, navigation directions magically appeared directly in front of the windscreen, so there was no need to turn my head. Likewise, no turning to see my blind spot as when I activated the turn signal, the side mirror cameras appeared to show me I was safe, or beeped at me to be aware of danger.
I pushed a button, not just to open the trunk, but to close it. I understand the windshield wipers will come on automatically when it rains and if I get blocked in a parking spot, I can use the key fob to start the car and back out of the space until there is sufficient room to enter the car. I mean, that is pretty close to self-driving!
But the most exquisite feeling for one of the unfortunate women who has had hot flashes for 30 years, was the cooling seats on an 80-degree day. Yes, not just conditioning the air, but seats that radiated coldness directly into my body.
I thought we were just getting a replacement vehicle. What I received was more than technology making my life easier and safer. It was a renewed hope in our future.
I am using new software that can take one of my images and
make an 8 second video just by prompting it on how I want it to move. I can now
organize an 8-page strategy into a one-page flyer in seconds. The lesson here
is that technology is going to bring us unexpected joys in ways that we don’t
even know yet. The fears of A.I. have to
be overcome and the challenges solved so that new experiences can keep us ever
young, hopeful and ready for pleasures yet to be discovered.
