Those of you who know me, know that when it comes to a sense of direction, I don’t have one.  I could get lost walking around a tree.  For those of you who don’t believe me, consider this, I lived in the same town for nearly 20 years and I still couldn’t tell you street names to save my life and I still had to consult a map for finding certain schools and other places.

I am a landmark kind of  gal.  Don’t tell me  “Go North”.  That will only result in a blank stare or a soft chuckle.  Instead you say “Head towards the old Burger King”.  If I see a specific rock or there’s an odd bend in the road I remember it.  You won’t get lost with me if I have things I recognize around me.

So here I am in a new place. A city.  Not New York City or anything like that, but a real city with big buildings, tons of bridges (which are all the same damn color), and lots of winding roads, hills and things that, well, just look the same to me.

I’m slowly learning my way around. I do much better on foot because I’m not having to navigate narrow roads, dodge cars parked on the side of the road (right in the flow of traffic) and attempt to follow street signs that aren’t always there.  Yet, I can’t go everywhere on foot.  I am sure it would be healthy for me. It would eventually cause my buns to tighten so much that bouncing a quarter off of my tushie into a shot glass would be an ice breaker at gatherings.  However, carrying arm loads of groceries is a bit of a bummer and winter is coming eventually. And while it’s not supposed to be like Buffalo here, I have a feeling that walking the mere 15 minutes it takes to get into downtown won’t be much fun when the wind is blowing and the temp outside is 20 degrees or lower.  So drive I must.  But leave the driving to my senses! HA! HA! Not so.

Instead I invested in a small, affordable and pretty reliable GPS (or Sat Nav) for my car.  Kaloo Kalay oh fragious day! Heather will not be gripping her steering wheel and facing forward with sweat on her brow and a pain in her lower back. Instead she types in her destination and the lovely lady in the box tells me how to get there. She also helps me avoid tolls, find places to eat, gas stations and Points of Interest.  Where has she been all my life? If a miss a turn or exit she doesn’t shout. Instead she calmly offers me advice on the next best step to take to get myself to my location.   And when I get there, hearing her soft voice say those three words I have come to love so much ring through my ears: “You have arrived”.

I have arrived, yes I have.