Question:
Buy a flashlight ? Will there be some major blackout or something ? " Cynthia smiled . " I know this all sounds ludicrous to you . But I felt I had to tell you .

Why would I advise Cynthia to buy a flashlight ?
Answer:
I advised her to buy a flashlight as an emergency measure .

Question:
I made it ; I do n't even know how . Mom was shocked . Yeah , our bus driver actually got lost at one point and had to stop for directions , which did n't inspire much confidence .

what may happened if the bus driver had n't been lost ?
Answer:
Mom would n't have been shocked

Question:
many people are a little queasy about that vision . haunt : to come to mind continuously e.g. we have been haunted by the prospect that we are turning into our machines : efficient , effective , productive , soulless .

What does the OP have an axe to grind against ?
Answer:
Automation

Question:
All my stress was for nothing because I decided how stressful it would be . I did things i wanted to do . shop , work out , see my immediate family . that was all i wanted to do and i did it .

What might have happened had you not decided to do what you wanted to do ?
Answer:
I would have been stressed out and anxious throughout the period and that would have made it difficult to get anything done well