I worry about the dependency.

I tell myself it’s no different from depending on Google to find information, but that doesn’t feel quite right. I don’t know if people are capable of not anthropomorphizing something that seems so human. We all name our robot vacuums and treat them like pets. We apologize to Alexa when we say something wrong. We ask AI bots to do things with a please and thank you.

I think AI is going to be transformative. I worry about what gets transformed and what comes next.

Grabbed my gate-checked bag at baggage claim, tore off the tags, pulled out my phone to call an Uber.

No phone.

Holy shit, where is my phone.

I went to American ticketing. She told me to go downstairs, everyone up here was busy. The guy at baggage service actually called the gate, then walked down to it himself. Came back: nothing.

So I pulled out my iPad and found it. There it was on the map — still on the plane, out on the tarmac, all alone. I put it in lost mode and started playing the tone. Somewhere out there, on an empty aircraft, my phone was chirping to nobody. They finally brought it out. Wallet, ID, credit cards, all still in it.

Very relieved.

Also, my passport was in my bag — because something like this happened to me once in New York.

Good times.

I woke around eight and dozed until noon. The coffee maker was broken—no coffee to start the day—so eventually I went looking for a drugstore. Lucky me, there was a CVS 0.3 miles away. (Spoiler alert: I walked much farther).

Before I headed out I decided to check out the common areas of my AirBnB, so I walked out to the private courtyard. It was a beautiful secluded brick paver space with bistro tables and potted plants. The shared laundry was just off the courtyard, so I stuck my head in to check it out. Expecting no one I was startled by a young woman putting clothes into the dryer. We exchanged pleasantries and I turned to leave. “I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?” I asked. “Rachel” she told me. “Nice to meet you” I said and turned to leave. “Wait” she stopped me. “What was your name again? I already forgot.” We both laughed as I repeated my name, then I was off to CVS.

Now, I don’t know what Apple Maps has against Bourbon Street but it directed me on the most ridiculous trek down side streets that I got lost. I imagine I walked well over a mile to go 0.3. On the way back I eschewed the GPS and made my way to Bourbon Street to find my apartment. I did walk a block too far, but it led me to a diner and also a divey looking barber shop.

After dropping off my CVS supplies, I walked the half block up the street for a burger. It was a run-down but clean place that advertised “never frozen” beef hamburger cooked under a real American hubcap. The fryer was down so no fries. I ordered a medium cooked burger with cheddar cheese, onion, lettuce, and tomato.

“Mayonnaise?” he asked.

“I’m sorry” I replied.

“Mayonnaise?” he asked again.

Embarrassed I still shook my head. The third time I clocked it. “No thank you, just ketchup and mustard.”

The burger was delicious. I ate half and took the rest to my room to enjoy later.

I texted the apartment manager. Hopefully the coffee maker arrives before tomorrow.

“How long have you lived here?” I asked.

“About a year,” she replied.

“Me too,” I said. “I just renewed my lease.”

“Cool,” she exclaimed. “High five!”

Then we high fived, and she got off the elevator on her floor.