G! P! S!
My three favorite letters this Christmas.
When I was told I was getting the "best present ever" this year, I was skeptical. I was guaranteed that I would love it. I couldn't imagine what it could be.
But sure enough, I can't remember the last time I got giddy-like-a-kid excited when I unwrapped something on Christmas morning. It is truly truly truly exactly what I want/need. This cute little GPS system for my car pops right onto my windshield and displays a ground level 3Dish map of wherever I am. I just punch in my destination and a kind reassuring voice tells me exactly when I will need to be turning and how long it will take me to get there. If I happen to veer off of the predetermined route, a wonderful satellite reconfigures things and tells me where to go from wherever I am. I love love love love love it.
I don't know if anyone really understands how stressed I am behind the wheel. Especially if I am not going to one of the five places I feel comfortable driving. T has to draw me detailed maps to get to places I've been several times, and field frantic phone calls from me, hopelessly lost (drives him absolutely up the wall...hence the gift...it was partially to relieve him of my psychotic driving/directional disorder).
Some people have an internal compass; I am not one of those people. Unless I can see Chicago's skyline, I have no idea which direction anything is. I get hopelessly turned around so easily. I need two maps to help me navigate anywhere: One to get me there and one to get me home because I cannot read one working backwards. And forget it if I am traveling south on a map, I need to crane my neck almost upside down to assure I know my left from my right. I'm certain that directional intelligence comes from the same part of the brain that helps one to do math problems, play chess, and know where one's keys are. This is a portion of my brain that I am sure is completely grey matter full of white noise.
So hopefully the days of me hearing, "Mommy who's driveway is this? Oh, we're turning around because you're lost again aren't you?"are gone.
posted by Kathleen Ryan at 12:10 PM
3 Comments:
That's great. You'll feel a lot more confident now when you travel alone. I need one for when I'm at the mall and come out of a store. Which way was I going? I've pulled into many a driveway too (look honey, we have company!), so don't feel bad. We just don't have the direction gene.
What a great Christmas gift! Beats a toaster and an electric blanket. You sound like you have such a full and wonderful life (that a boy clarence). I truly am envious.
Can you detach it easly and put it in the glove compartment so that it doesn't get stolen? What if the GPS turns against you and gives you false information and you end up in the middle of Midlothean? Just being a bit parinoid here.
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