From The Storyteller
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Plan B
December 2022 McDonald’s announced its first totally automated store in Fort Worth, TX. While some might call this “progress”, it sent chills down my spine. McDonald’s home page boasted of the fact that, at least statically, roughly 1 in 8 Americans have, at one time or another, worked for them. Think of it, the Golden Arches have literally introduced millions of young people to what “being paid to work” means – the thought itself is breathtaking. Naturally this announcement caused me to wonder the obvious - when will the next pillar of society crumble. In the back of my mind, I knew that, if "AI" caused the law business to crater and churches closed, flipping burgers at “MickyDees” would always be there for me. Now I need a new plan “B”. My first instinct was to turn to “new” technology, then I realized this was a dead end. My tech speed is at the Dick Tracy two-way wrist radio level, while Apple’s new Series 9 wristwatch adorns a wrist with 6.5 billion transistors. Plan B for Dick is clearly sticking with the Sci-Fi alien Moon Maiden, while for me the search goes on. My Plan “B” search was going nowhere. “AI” is now writing college papers, self-driving Ubers are working as city taxis, and Amazon is using delivery drones. Where can a person my age, starting at the bottom, learn something “new”, and then have a chance to utilize it? That’s when my Plan “B” came into focus. My “new” career opportunity will be teaching “Patience”. My plan: I’ll drive everywhere at 5 mph below the posted speed limit. Those behind me will grow in “patience” as my driving forces them to slow down. I can already see myself being thanked for helping so many people become more patient. Moral: It’s good to have Plan “B”. |