October 21, 2025

Mishandled

It all started 25 years ago when car manufacturers introduced push buttons. Open the window? Push down. Lock the door? Click. My granddaughter got into my older model car, took one look at the window handle and asked, “What’s that?”

Fast forward to last week when my daughter and I pull up to the local hospital emergency room entrance (it’s not an emergency) and the man comes out with a wheelchair to help me out. He stands there, puzzled, staring at the Tesla’s door. No handle. Meanwhile, I on the inside, also stare and then start randomly pushing what might be a button. Windows go up and down, locks snap, but no door opens. Finally daughter comes back and with a push of her remote opens the door.

Modern convenience gone amuck. Give me back the cranks and knobs.. I miss handles.