My car is like a second home. I can leave home and still do everything except go to the bathroom—though I’m sure Detroit is working on that one. In my car I can check e-mail on my PDA, have a conference call, and pick up a no-foam skim latte. I have my makeup application timed to two full stoplights. And I’m not the only one, of course. I’ve seen people reading, shaving, even changing their clothes while driving!
And when I bank from my car, which I often do, and I see the twin driveways marked “ATM” and “TELLER,” it’s a no-brainer. I’m a teller kind of gal.
I remember when ATMs first appeared in the early 80s. And along with everyone else, I was smitten at first with this round-the-clock money-spitter. There’s no question that all of our Jetsons-like technology is convenient, but I have to wonder—in the process of making things easier, have we lost something of real value?
I think we have. What we’ve lost is each other. (more…)