In a recent Thought for the Weekend about the future of self-driving trucks, Bob mentioned the importance of the GPS in the trucking industry, It’s true, the GPS is a Godsend, not just for truckers, but for all drivers.
Great idea – until you turn the steering wheel!
No more of the days of stretching an unfolded map across your steering wheel, or stopping at the pizza parlor to ask for directions. Now, with the power of technology, everyone from professional truck drivers to college students in new towns can find their destination.
But I have a confession. Maybe I’m just a little sensitive on Monday mornings before I’ve had my coffee, but that uppity lady’s snooty voice can really get on my nerves! You know which lady I’m talking about – the one who cuts into your favorite song to announce: “In 500 feet, turn right.”
Now, I don’t know if it’s because the lady who does my GPS voice is English, and they use meters over there instead of feet, but her idea of ‘500 feet’ always seems to be VERY different from my idea of ‘500 feet.’ No matter how much I slow down, and turn down my music, I always seem to miss my turn!
And when I do, she just loves to tell me all about it! That GPS lady is just a little too condescending as she says again and again. “Turn around when possible.” You can almost hear her sigh. I don’t know how I missed the turn; I was looking – I swear!
Speaking of swearing, maybe that’s what I need. Instead of an uptight, passive-aggressive GPS that sounds like an English nanny, I need a GPS that sounds more like my friends:
“All right, now listen up….You’re gonna go straight until you get to that intersection with the McDonald’s and the CVS. Then you’re gonna make a right. Keep on goin’ straight until you pass the Dunkin’ Donuts next to that car wash where they always offer the Groupon deals. That’s where you’ll take a left. Wait for it, wait for it. Git over, or you’re gonna miss it!! S*** you missed the turn! Don’t worry….you can make a U-turn up yonder.”
As it turns out, like any good invention, I wasn’t the first one to think of a redneck GPS!
Happy Monday,
Mary
