Good-Hearted
Austin, TX | 2026 © Alicia Kae Miller
On my way to get to where I was going today, the act of downshifting and coming to a complete stop pulled me out of the deep thoughts that I was sinking into.
As I casually looked to my right, I couldn’t help but notice the driverless vehicle idling next to me. Now, being ahead of, alongside, and behind Waymo is not a new phenomenon for those of us living in Austin, but for some reason, the surrealness of the moment hit me very hard.
My mind raced to childhood and the futuristic cartoon, The Jetsons. Then my heart grew heavy for all that we have collectively been through over the last 5+ years, and for what continues to come our way nearly every waking moment. I thought about control and how if we peel the apple of truth, the one thing that we indisputably have our finger on the pulse of is how we respond to anything, which is actually everything.
As the light changed, and the empty vehicle drove ahead, my mind darted back to a heartwarming parking lot experience that I had not too long ago. It was a very hot day in Austin. So, between blue light gadget distraction and my AC cranking out cool air, the first tap, tap, tap on my driver’s side window went unacknowledged as I assumed that it was one of the territorial Great-tailed Grackles, but the tapping persisted.
When I finally gazed up, I couldn’t see anything, so I thought my suspicions were correct. Then, suddenly, much to my surprise, a darling little girl with the biggest grin on her face raised her tiny hand to offer me a pink-eared rubber ducky (if you aren’t familiar with the correlation between Jeeps and rubber ducks, please Google it!)
I was overwhelmed with joy and hurriedly rolled down my window, gave a Texas-sized smile, and graciously thanked her for being thoughtful, then immediately placed her token of solidarity on my dashboard, where it has remained ever since.
As she ran to the rear of my truck, I was relieved to see her Papa, and inquired, “You too?” He beamed and pointed to his white 4-door Wrangler a few rows away. My heart was whole; I gave them a thumbs-up, and as they walked toward the shopping center, I noticed how proud she was of herself as she grabbed his hand and skipped away.
I frequently think about that precious moment, the guidance he is teaching, and the lessons that will serve her well throughout her life: independence, generosity, and all-important kindness.
So let the giving nature of a future Jeep owner be a reminder to us all that, regardless of what lies ahead, we must keep our humanity top of mind. Further, as we walk together on life’s journey, let’s engage in empathetic communication and pledge to treat one another with the dignity and respect that all of us, regardless of race, religion, color, age, sex, or national origin, so richly deserve.
Until we meet again, peace be with you. ❤️
Yours in Solidarity, -akm
January 2026