My AA friend introduced himself in the usual fashion. Then he shared, “you would think from all the news reports that autonomous driving is something new. But I can assure you, self-driving vehicles made the news in Calgary decades ago, long before Google was invented, never mind starting their self-driving car project.”
It was a curious beginning to a worthwhile share on relapses.
Taking a sip of coffee, my AA brother continued.
“I remember this story like it was yesterday. It was 1978. A tourist from Germany arrived in Calgary. He had booked a recreational vehicle for a holiday in the mountains. After brief instructions, he took possession of the motor home and departed for Banff. Language might have been an issue in what followed.”
“Fortunately, or unfortunately, the Banff highway has long straight stretches, good shoulders and wide ditches.”
“The tourist was impressed by the technology on his vehicle. It had a full kitchen, sleeping area and reading chairs. All the comforts of home; and a new amazing feature.”
“He found a switch labelled cruise control. Taking the words literally, he decided to see just how clever the vehicle was. He turned it on and saw that the vehicle appeared to drive itself.”
“I can imagine the surge of respect that he felt for North American engineering. Enjoying this new technology, he probably began by taking his hands off the steering wheel. The vehicle continued straight down the highway. Being cautious, he probably waited for a minute, then seeing no problems, thought, ‘I can leave my seat and make a cup of coffee,” but prudently, taking one step at a time. I can see him standing beside the driver’s seat, watching carefully as the vehicle rolled down the highway; ready, at the first sign of trouble, to jump back behind the steering wheel.”
“Gaining confidence, he probably made his way to the rear of the RV, where the rescue team eventually found him. Because the inevitable happened. The highway curved, and the RV smoothly went over the shoulder, into the ditch, hit some soft soil, slowed dramatically, then gently rolled over, trapping our hero inside.”
“Fortunately, he had been able to brace himself. With the smooth exit and subsequent rollover, he was trapped but unharmed.”
Our AA brother wrapped his story up, “I do the same thing with my sobriety. I think that I have spiritual cruise control.”
“Instead of paying attention, I let my sobriety look after itself. Thinking my program habits are no longer needed, I take my hands off the wheel; I stand up and watch, and nothing happens. Eventually, I walk away.”
“Then life takes a curve, and I am in the ditch, where my sponsor usually finds me, nowhere near my spiritual tools.”
“Autonomous driving is not yet here, and autonomous spiritual maintenance has yet to be perfected.”
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