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DAYS TO KEEP IN MIND
Friday May 1 May Day
Friday May 1 National Day of Prayer
Saturday May 2 Kentucky Derby
Monday May 4 Star Wars Day ("May The Fourth Be...")
Monday May 4 Teacher Appreciation Week begins
Tuesday May 5 Cinco de Mayo
Tuesday May 5 African World Heritage Day
Wednesday May 6 National Nurses Day
May 8 , 1945: Victory in Europe Day ("VE Day") celebrates the
surrender of Nazi Forces to the Allies during World War II
Friday May 8 Military Spouse Appreciation Day
Sunday May 10 Mother's Day
Monday May 12 International Nurses Day
May 14, 1607: Founding of Jamestown, the first permanent
English settlement in America
Friday May 15 International Day of Families
Saturday May 16 Armed Forces Day
Monday May 25 Memorial Day
Sunday May 31 National Smile Day
"Consider taking a break."
That message popped up the day before Easter, right as I was in full sprint
getting everything ready for our family gathering: cleaning the house,
putting up decorations, picking up the carrot cake from Chocolate in the
Oven in Milford, grabbing the ham and catered dishes from our ShopRite
in Clinton (always excellent), and mentally juggling the hundred other little
things that come with hosting.
Did this gentle nudge come from a loved one? A friend who knows me well?
No. It appeared as a hologram on my windshield. From my car.
Yes — my car.
Apparently, it's part of Hyundai's Driver Attention Warning system, which
uses sensors and cameras to detect signs of fatigue or distraction: things
like drifting between lanes or changes in attentiveness. It even ranks you
on a scale and flashes a little coffee cup icon when it thinks you need a
break. Helpful? Sure. Slightly humbling? Also yes.
To be fair, I'll admit I'm not exactly operating on my early-20s energy any-
more. Back then, I could stay out all night dancing in NYC, grab a couple
hours of sleep, and show up the next day at class looking perfectly fine.
Now? I can get a full night's rest — no dancing, no clubs — and still look
like I've been up till dawn. Youth really is wasted on the young.
This new car, my Tucson, is a big leap for me after years of driving vehicles
with zero bells and whistles. My old checklist was simple: Does it have
heat? Air conditioning? A radio? Will it reliably get me from point A to
point B? Good enough.
Now? It's a whole different experience. The car beeps, flashes, and gently
corrects me at every turn. "You're a little too close to that car." "Let me
adjust those wipers for you." "Here are six camera angles, just in case."
And, of course, "Consider taking a break."
Some of it is genuinely helpful. Some of it feels a bit… overprotective.
But maybe it's not wrong.
Spring is busy for so many of you young parents — running your kids from
field to field, activity to activity, college visits, graduations, and everything
in between. Hopefully, there's a little time in there for celebrating Mother's
Day too. (Love you, Mom!)
So as we move through this beautiful, hectic season, I'll pass along to all of
you the advice I got from my car, words I didn't expect to
hear, but probably needed: Consider taking a break.
aandlpoolservice@gmail.com
908.638.9339
www.AandLPoolService.com
1 VAN SYCKLE ST, HIGH BRIDGE, NJ 08829
SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE – we've
got your pool needs covered!
-Julie Flunn
