Having a ghostly voice provide directions as we are driving
might simplify our RV life, but what sort of challenge is that? We pride
ourselves on making serendipitous discoveries of places that don’t appear on
maps. Much better to blunder along with the questionable help of my old Rand
McNally road atlas, and with the even less reliable aid of locals.
Conversation with the locals can be amazing, revealing much
about current education. When we can get the attention of a young woman who is
absorbed in texting about last night’s date, we may ask, “Can you tell us how
to get to Wal-Mart?”
“Yeah, sure. Actually, it’s down that street.”
“Which way, east or west?”
[Blank stare.] “That
way. Like, past the big mall a ways.”
“How many miles?”
“Uh, I’m not sure. Not too far, actually. You can’t miss
it.”
Much later, we pull into a gas station where we can again
ask for directions. A slack-jawed young man reluctantly approaches.
“Can you tell us where Wal-Mart is?”
“Well, it’s, y’know, over on the other side of the highway.”
“How far over?”
“Not too far. Like, y’know, half an hour, maybe.”
“Do we go north or south on this street?”
[Glazed expression.] “Just go that way. Y’ go over a coupla bridges.”
Despairing of ever finding Wal-Mart, we stop at a fancy
coffee shop filled with people glued to their laptops. The barista—no doubt an
MBA looking for permanent employment—listens sympathetically and whips out her
expensive tablet. She searches desperately, then brightens. “Here we are. It
says the closest one is over in Illinois. About 200 miles.”
We are in Wisconsin. Three cheers for technology! This is so
much better than relying on the locals.
