“2018...A Space Odyssey”

“2018...A Space Odyssey”

In 2001 A Space Odyssey the big conversation was:

 

Dave Bowman: Hello, HAL. Do you read me, HAL?

HAL: Affirmative, Dave. I read you.

Dave Bowman: Open the pod bay doors, HAL.

HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.

Dave Bowman: What's the problem?

HAL: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.

Dave Bowman: What are you talking about, HAL?

HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.

Dave Bowman: I don't know what you're talking about, HAL.

HAL: I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.

Dave Bowman: [feigning ignorance] Where the hell did you get that idea, HAL?

HAL: Dave, although you took very thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.

Dave Bowman: Alright, HAL. I'll go in through the emergency airlock.

HAL: Without your space helmet, Dave? You're going to find that rather difficult.

Dave Bowman: HAL, I won't argue with you anymore! Open the doors!

HAL: Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.

In 2018, there was no conversation.

I was sleeping in my fully electric, automatic recliner chair at 2:00 am.

The way I have pieced the story together as there were no witnesses, is that I must have leaned over to my left a bit and hit the eject button (a stand up mode to make it easier to get out of the chair) and the chair ejected me into the living room. I woke as I was flying out (not really flying as I must have fallen forward) and both of my legs went out in different directions bending all the wrong ways at the knees! As I lay screaming, I realized that no one could hear me and I was no where near a phone.

After determining my legs were not broken it took another 30 minutes or so of sweat and pain to turn myself over, go up two steps to the kitchen level, turn myself around and work my way up another 3 steps to a somewhat sitting position and using my arms and some of my leg power, get into a standing position.

Once up I went immediately to our bar and had a drink!

My old cane has come into use again, and my normal ambulatory concerns have dramatically increased.