So the quest to replace Lucia has begun.

Lucia is our 2015 Fiat 500. I don’t name my cars. But we did name this one, as it always called to mind a small Italian mouse.

And after 12 years of driving tiny cars, Lori and have both decided that it’s time for a vehicle with adult dimensions. We settled on a subcompact SUV. And after reading reviews, and scoping deals, I end up with 6 cars of interest.

First Stop: Mazda

So I am at Koeppel Mazda in Jackson Heights, Queens for the purpose of test driving the CX-30, their subcompact SUV. The first thing I notice is that they have four entryway double doors, and no directions as to which ones to use. This is where you get to see the logic of the familiar. Everybody I make eye-contact with on the inside works at this building. All of them know which door is locked. So, as I go, from locked door, to locked door, like a doofus, I am met, at each one, by a different well-meaning but beleaguered salesperson seeming to communicate “next door, dummy.”

I am striving to not grow disgruntled and am nearly successful. I am partially gruntled by the time I get in.

Upon entry, I talk to a woman who asks my name three times, and number twice, and seems wholly skeptical of my claims to an appointment, before discovering that I am, in fact, telling her the truth.

Then she refers me to Mr. Salesguy. He is knowledgeable, and friendly, but is also what Jerry Seinfeld might call a “low talker.” I’m having to ask him to repeat everything he says.

And as I’m seated at Mr. Salesguy’s desk, awaiting the drive, I look over his shoulder and discover…birds.

The dealership has two pet birds. Thankfully, they are caged. And one of them is massive, a sturdy white bird about 18 inches tall with a pompadour-like crest that makes it both look like a cast member on Grease, and the perfect companion of a small Italian mouse.

I then learn that it is a cockatoo. And it is 60. Mr. Salesguy says, I didn’t believe it either, but I Googled it. I promptly Google as well and confirm this is a thing. Cockatoos routinely live to 60. The record-holder was 120.

The Koeppel Auto Group has been in NYC for 87 years. This bird has been there for 60 of them. It may well have seniority over everybody.

This bird probably went to Woodstock. And maybe knows Woodstock And has definitely seen some things that would fit a tell-all book.

I then learn that Cockatoos, like parrots, can learn and speak words. Unlike parrots, however, they don’t talk much.

And now a 60-year-old New York bird is making a whole lot of sense.

Sometimes longevity involves being able to say things and choosing not to.

Sometimes survival requires we don’t share everything we see.

I don’t endorse secrets. I think in our relationships, and friendships, and even in public life, we should be as honest as we can.

Running your mouth, however, may not be the best way to go.

Sometimes you choose to be honest to the wrong person, and face consequences, because they are people you can’t trust, or people you can’t trust to keep their hands to themselves.

Sadly, even this doesn’t slow many of us down.

The digital age is characterized by noise. We all have global microphones. We can all yell at people seemingly too far away to harm us. We all have the tools to shout our ideas into the world and see if they stick.

Sometimes this becomes a compulsion. We feel like if we’re not talking, people will forget us.

Sometimes it becomes an addiction. We love the sound of our voice.

We’ve seen it with celebrities. We’ve seen it with politicians. We’ve seen it with the uber-wealthy. People with an existing platform join Twitter, realize that their most trivial thought can reach 50 million people, and start losing their minds. People with expertise, either actual, or perceived, flood the airwaves with incessant messaging that could have just gone into a journal.

At the same time, we often don’t stop to consult the most experienced people in the room.

Anyone who has been in your family, organization, or country, for 60 years has probably seen some stuff. They can probably teach you things. Seeking their counsel is not the worst thing you could do. So many organizations have goldmines of wisdom and skill they ignore every day, because they want to make the sexy 25-year-old their wunderkind frontperson, and pretend they have all the answers. We all love a good prodigy story. By all means, make room for gifted people with fresh insight. There should be diversity at every leadership table. Woe unto us, however, for worshipping youth and despising age.

Ultimately the visit was a success.

I liked the car. I got great info from Mr. Salesguy.

I probably should have asked the bird.

But there’s always next time.

(Photo Credit: Chris F)