City Confusion
Had to move to Omaha, Nebraska.
Ten minutes from one town to another
on Martha’s Vineyard Island,
ten minutes to go two miles in Omaha.
I have acquired a new skill here.
I learned how to get lost the first week.
It’s necessary to get a new driver’s license
in a new state, of course, so…
Started off with my GPS and a map
and, due to a street system with
numbered and lettered streets on a grid,
expected to be finished in no time.
Wrong. Couldn’t have been more wrong.
Turns out there is a warren of named streets
that go around behind stores and in
and out of parking areas and malls.
Trying to follow the GPS, “in ¼ mile turn left.”
How far is ¼ mile! Oops, I should have turned
there. “Redirecting. In ½ mile turn right, then
immediate left.” No. That’s a restaurant!
Gave up, went into a store to ask directions.
“Oh, you’re almost there,” said the lady,
brightly. “Just go to the end of this street
and turn left, then left. It’s right there”.
I thanked her profusely and
left to follow her simple directions.
About half an hour later, I found
myself in front of the same store.
The same lady went out of the shop, and
pointed at the turn. “OH, THAT one!”
She drew me a little map on an envelope.
I got my license, drove home, took a nap.
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