The truck I own today has more bells and whistles than my prior trucks, and I appreciate most of them. But, one specific annoyance that I am working through is the key fob. It really isn’t a key, and that wouldn’t be necessary anyway because my truck doesn’t have an ignition cylinder — or a door lock.
Does anyone remember when a vehicle key was actually a key? In fact, there were two keys: one to unlock the doors and one for the ignition. And, do you remember when having a spare key made didn’t require an appointment at a car dealership’s service department or an application for a bank loan?
Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the key fob features. Locking. Unlocking. Starting. Alarm. Even a tailgate drop. But, having this key fob in my pocket is like having a rock in my shoe. It’s incredibly annoying.
My solution was to leave the fob on my desk, on a hook, etc. This proved to be an invitation for losing the key fob, which makes me nutty. So, I found a solution. Actually, my daughter Abby did. She gave me a carabiner, a spring-loaded clasp that I then hook to my beltloop. No microwave-sized fob in my pocket anymore. And, no time spent trying to find a misplaced fob. Making this solution even better, I found a leather cover that not only protected the plastic fob but made me quite fashionable. At least I thought so, until the leather cover broke and the fob fell out.
Of course, I risk having the entire carabiner fall off my belt loop, but I will take that chance. The benefit outweighs the risk. Besides, it leaves more room in my pocket for things like my refrigerator-sized cell phone.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707