Gloria Lee – Bilingual Children’s Author & Storyteller
✨ Stories that spark curiosity, kindness, and laughter.

Gloria Lee is a bilingual storyteller based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
She reimagines Greek myths with warmth, humour, and imagination —
weaving tales that connect generations and hearts.

Welcome to Gloria Lee’s World.

Gloria Lee is a bilingual author and storyteller based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
She retells Greek myths with warmth, humor, and imagination — weaving tales that bridge art, wisdom, and heart across generations.

Is it just me, or is my car gaslighting me?

Is it just me, or is my car gaslighting me?

I’ve been having a bit of a “sitcom moment” with my car lately. I’m sharing this because it’s too ridiculous to keep to myself—and honestly, I need to know if I’m the only one. To my fellow 50-somethings who’ve dutifully survived three rounds of COVID boosters… is this a side effect we weren’t told about?

■ Incident 1: The Standoff (3 days ago)

I sat in my BMW X2, ready to go, and pressed the start button with confidence. Silence. I pressed it again. And again. My heart started racing. “Is it dead? Do I need a tow truck?” Then, a cold, judgmental message appeared on the screen: ‘Press brake to start engine.’ It turns out I was standing my ground… on the accelerator. My car was basically saying, “Ma’am, we aren’t even started yet, where exactly are you planning to fly to?”

■ Incident 2: The Wrong Button Romance (2 days ago)

Determined not to repeat my mistake, I got in the car the next day. “I’ve got this,” I thought. I reached out and pressed the button. Nothing. I kept clicking it, getting more frustrated by the second. Well, it turns out I wasn’t pressing the ‘Start’ button at all. I was busy frantically clicking the ‘P’ (Park) button on top of the gear shift. I spent ten minutes arguing with a parking button.

Maybe my brain just decided it needed a permanent ‘Park’ mode.

■ Incident 3: The High-Tech Prison (Today)

I went to pick up a friend. I pulled up, waved, and she tried to open the door. Locked. I tried to find the unlock button, but in that split second, it was like my brain had been wiped clean. I couldn’t find it anywhere! My solution? I turned the car off and started it again. Because apparently, a full system reboot is the only way I know how to open a door now. My friend stood there shivering in the cold, watching me perform this “restarting ceremony” just to let her in.


What is wrong with me?!!

Is it “Booster Brain”? Or just the lovely perks of being in my 50s? The BMW engineers would probably cry if they saw me, but hey, it gave me and my friend a good laugh. If you’ve had a “brain-fart” moment like this lately, please tell me in the comments so I don’t feel so alone!

저만 그런가요, 아니면 제 차가 저를 가스라이팅 하는 건가요?

요즘 제 일상이 한 편의 시트콤 같습니다. 혼자 보기엔 너무 아까워(사실은 좀 억울해서) 기록해 봅니다. 우리 코비드 백신 3차까지 꿋꿋하게 맞은 50대 동지 여러분, 혹시 여러분도 저 같으신가요?

■ 사건 1: 시동과의 사투 (3일 전)

BMW X2 운전석에 앉아 우아하게 시동 버튼을 눌렀습니다. 그런데 묵묵부답. 한 번, 두 번, 세 번… 점점 심장은 뛰고 패닉이 찾아오더군요. “이 차 왜 이래? 고장이야?” 식은땀을 흘리며 화면을 보니 차가 저에게 말을 건넵니다. ‘브레이크를 밟고 시동을 거세요.’ 세상에, 저는 아주 당당하게 악셀레이터를 꾹 밟고 있었더라고요. 30년 운전 경력이 무색해지는 순간이었습니다.

■ 사건 2: 엉뚱한 버튼과의 사랑 (2일 전)

어제의 실수를 교훈 삼아 경건하게 차에 올랐습니다. 오늘은 절대 안 속는다며 버튼을 꾹! 그런데 또 조용합니다. ‘설마 진짜 방전인가?’ 알고 보니 제가 누르고 있던 건 시동 버튼이 아니라, 기어 꼭대기에 있는 ‘P(주차)’ 버튼이었어요. 10분을 넘게 주차 버튼만 누르며 시동이 안 걸린다고 화를 냈으니, 차가 얼마나 황당했을까요?

■ 사건 3: 문 좀 열어다오 (오늘)

친구를 픽업하러 갔습니다. 밖에서 친구가 문손잡이를 당기는데 차 문은 굳게 잠겨 있었죠. 분명 잠금 해제 버튼이 어디 있을 텐데, 아무리 찾아도 안 보이는 겁니다! 결국 제가 택한 방법은? 시동을 껐다가 다시 켜기. 그래야 문이 열리니까요. 친구는 밖에서 덜덜 떨고, 저는 안에서 ‘재부팅’ 쇼를 하고…


나 뭐지?!!

백신 3차까지 맞느라 고생한 제 뇌가 잠시 파업이라도 선언한 걸까요? 아니면 50대라는 나이가 주는 귀여운(?) 건망증일까요?

BMW 기술진들이 보면 뒷목 잡을 일이지만, 뭐 어떻습니까. 덕분에 친구랑 한바탕 웃었고, 이렇게 블로그에 쓸 에피소드도 생겼는걸요. 여러분도 오늘 저처럼 어처구니없는 실수에 ‘허허’ 웃어넘기는 여유로운 하루 되시길 바랍니다!

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