The plane flight was uneventful, I was able to get tomorrow’s boarding pass before leaving the airport, and then went outside to catch the rental car shuttle.

After waiting for what seemed a VERY long time for the shuttle for my unnamed rental car company to come, whose name rhymed with Mudget, I arrived to get my rental car. The guy at the counter told me it was in C-8 around the building to the back, the list location near the road.

It was a new Altima. I put my suitcase in the trunk, adjusted the mirrors, adjusted the seat, and then went to put the key in the ignition.

No key.

In fact, there was no ignition. Just a button that said press to turn engine on and off. On the seat next to me was a fob.

I held the fob next to the button. Nothing.

I pushed the button and the ‘On’ light went on. Great, I thought, I’ll just push it again. The ‘On’ light went off.

I tried it again. On. Then off.

I stared at it. I opened the glove compartment for instructions. No instructions.

After trying to come up with any other way of starting the car, I got out, and walked back around the building, back to the counter, and asked how I started the car.

Obviously, the guy said, make sure the fob is with you. Press your foot on the brake and then push the button. The engine will start. Human engineering at its finest.

Somehow I felt that another gap between myself and Gen Y had opened up further, despite my continuous attempts to be relevant by being active on Twitter, Facebook, starting a blog, …