Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Which Way?

 

I don’t have a very good sense of direction, and I don’t know my north from my south, so to speak. I think a good sense of direction is something a person either has or doesn’t have, and I don’t. Mine is so bad, that I even have a hard time figuring out the direction that the wind is blowing-even though we have a weathervane.

When I lived with my Grandmother, she would say something like “Valerie, would you go to the kitchen and get my cherry pitter from that north cupboard?” Huh? Off I’d go, searching every corner of her kitchen as quickly and silently as possible, hoping I’d hit pay dirt right off the bat.

My husband Stuart likes to tease me by saying that the town we live in is twice as big for me as it is for most other residents, because I often get turned around when we are out and about, and I think we are in a new part of the city.  And as far as reading a map goes, well lets just say that it doesn’t matter if it is upside down or right side up—I always get confused by the fact that north can be any direction I point the old Rand McNally.

A couple years ago I asked Stuart if he would make me one of those wooden direction signs shaped like an arrow, and with the word HAWAII carved into the surface. “Which direction would it point?” I asked, taking in some of the beautiful views from our yard. “That way.” he gestured-straight at the neighbor’s garage.

I may not have a very good sense of direction, but I DO have a great imagination!

What about you?  Is your sense of direction better than mine?

8 comments:

  1. I'm pretty good with directions, but getting details from MapQuest before venturing somewhere new helps. It gives me s wider sense of things before I start out.

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  2. Growing up, my sense of direction was awful. That's because whenever we went to town, we got around by saying, "Well, go over to the Anderson's house and then turn right." In a small town of 1600 people, directions were based off of landmarks instead of a compass!

    When I moved to the city, I had to learn directions - and I am MUCH better at it now, though there are times I still have problems!

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  3. Too cute! Love your sign. I traveled for a job for 6 years straight, and I think it kind of honed my sense of direction a lot, so I'm not too bad ;-)

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  4. Love the Hawaii sign!!! ~:o)

    You have a sense of direction like my Anna who very much takes after my mom - they get lost on a straight road! When Anna was 4 we lived in Butte, MT for 2 1/2 years while John finished up school (MT Tech Sch of Mines) .. we'd be doing things in town and Anna would inevitably ask .. "are we still in Montana?"

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  5. Joanne-MapQuest is a great idea! I think I need to use it:)

    Melissa-when I lived in a really small town in NY that exactly how people gave directions too:)

    Lisa-traveling would definitely hone a persons sense of direction. I should work on mine!

    Lisa-what Anna said is so cute! I can relate:)

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  6. Oh, I am so like you about directions. I've lived in my town for over 35 years and I still get turned around, especially if something changes.

    I tend to use landmarks as directional signs:~) One time they cut down an ancient oak tree and I got lost. It took me ages to figure a new "directional sign!"

    Funny thing is one of my kids is kind of like me and the other isn't. The one who isn't directionally challenged can find her way around ANY town. She has an innate sense of North, South, West and East.

    I, unfortunately, do not. I also get teased a lot:~)

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  7. Sara, I'm so bad that if someone asks me for directions, I tell them I just moved to town. I think you are right-a good sense of direction seems to be innate in some people like your daughter, and totally absent in others-like you and me;)

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  8. I've said it before but I'll say it again - we are kindred spirits Valerie. I have NO sense of direction and get all hot and anxious if someone starts rhyming off directions using north and south. I need exact details - turn left at this street etc. Love the sign and you in my opinion have a delightful imagination.

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