I must keep up.
That was back when my children were in elementary school.
As an officer for the neighborhood children's association, after an event, I ordered 20 hamburgers from McDonald's
and 20 juices
in advance.
I told them I would come to pick them up before noon and asked for a receipt for the 'XX Children's Association'.
I thought my planning was perfect.
Then, on the day,
I drove to the shop at the reserved time to pick up the hamburgers.
I entered the shop and asked at the counter, 'I'm from the XX Children's Association.'
'I ordered hamburgers and juice in advance; are they ready?'
To my question, the clerk said 'Yes' while lining up 20 hamburgers
and 20 juices, and then said one thing.
'Yes, will you be eating here? Or is it to go?'...
I thought, 'Seriously?!' 💦
There was no one around me; I was all alone.
Come on now.
No matter what, how could I possibly eat 20 of them all by myself!
I suppose it's just following the manual, but try to read the room!
A few years later.
I hadn't eaten anything since the morning and had missed lunch, so it was around 3 PM,
and there was a Mister Donut inside the shop I went to for some shopping.
Feeling hungry, I went inside.
I picked up a tray and chose 3 donuts.
I went straight to the register.
I stood at the register, and my brain started spinning.
They will probably say it.
'Is it to go? Or will you be eating here?'
I spoke faster than the clerk could.
'I'll eat them! With a hot drink!'
The clerk froze for a moment, staring at the 3 donuts on my tray.
Then, looking at my face, they said,
'All three of them?'
Oh, come on!
Is it wrong to eat three of them!
Why isn't that part of the manual!
Since there was no point in getting angry here, I calmly said, 'Yes, I will eat all three.'
Time passed.
Last year, I went to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant with my husband.
We stood at the register with the bill, but the clerk said,
'Please pay at the automatic payment machine over there.'
My husband was about to yell, 'You idiot!'
'Just stand there and do the register!' but I stopped him.
I held the barcode up to the so-called automatic payment machine.
The price was displayed, and it spoke, asking me to choose between cash or card.
I pressed the cash button for now and inserted the cash.
For a second, I was worried if it would be okay.
The change was displayed, and when I pressed the button again,
the change came out obediently.
Honey.
Don't get angry in a place like this!
The Showa era is over now.
In the old days, it was 'follow your children when you get old,' but
from now on, it's 'follow the machines,' I said, pretending to know better.
Recently, no matter where you go, machines are standing there.
Even at the hospital, they handle reception and payments.
At first, I was anxious, but once I tried it, it wasn't that bad.
They say young people these days don't carry small change.
They seem to prefer points over cash, using cards or PayPay.
Generally, banks have started charging fees if you bring in small change.
It even costs money to exchange money for my grandchild's New Year's gift.
I have a feeling my grandchild might say to me soon,
'Grandma, please send my New Year's gift via PayPay'...
It's quite tough at this age, but it can't be helped.
The population is steadily decreasing.
Will I be cared for by robots when I enter a nursing home?
I wonder.
It can't be helped,
even if I make a fuss, the evolution of AI will not stop.
I must keep up.
I went to the hair salon today.
I asked for a gray hair dye and a cut, and thankfully,
it seems technical work cannot be left to AI just yet.
I felt a little relieved.