I love this. I also have no sense of direction but fortunately can memorize. I still remember first moving to Anchorage and being so confused that the mountains were in the east. My east-coast brain automatically put them to the west of me, and I'd repeat over and over to myself, "The mountains are in the east!" An adaptation for me--I don't panic when I get lost (unless I'm in a big city with traffic). I get interested in where I am that I didn't intend to go and in finding new routes until I happen upon something I recognize again and re-route myself and re-orient my brain to memorize a new set of streets. And, you might expect me to be late.
That time we were on a road trip to Charlotte and I drove an hour in the wrong direction. You reacted casually as though that's just something we typically factor into a road trip.
I really liked this, Diana. I am also thinking of the fantastic contrast between Texas and Ireland, and can supply another contrast if you like.
On the sense-of-direction scale, I would be at the opposite extreme (and, bizarrely, I once talked to a professor about this in Santa Barbara, who was not actually from there (and this only makes sense if you have followed the link, people)). Everyone in my family has a near-perfect sense of direction, such that if you arrived at a family dinner and asked which way was north, we would all stick out our arms like a bunch of Solid Gold dancers.
It would be so much fun to go on a road trip with you and compare our experiences of direction and place! I'll put that up on a high shelf in the room of things to wish for. But hey, if you have time once you're done in Ireland and want to swing by Portugal, I'm ready to go.
Oh my gosh, I can't write and listen to music either.
I am especially baffled by people who can write while listening to music with lyrics.
yes, who are those people? how do they not get distracted???
They might be geniuses?
They probably are.
I love this. I also have no sense of direction but fortunately can memorize. I still remember first moving to Anchorage and being so confused that the mountains were in the east. My east-coast brain automatically put them to the west of me, and I'd repeat over and over to myself, "The mountains are in the east!" An adaptation for me--I don't panic when I get lost (unless I'm in a big city with traffic). I get interested in where I am that I didn't intend to go and in finding new routes until I happen upon something I recognize again and re-route myself and re-orient my brain to memorize a new set of streets. And, you might expect me to be late.
Love this. The mountains are in the east!
What a lovely piece of writing.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
This was delightful! I never knew there was a Sense of Direction scale out there.
Also, I think Brain.fm is helpful music for writing sometimes, but there's nary a word to be found.
Oh, thank you, Joey! Off to check out brain.fm…
Love this, Diana. It's beautiful.
Thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️
That time we were on a road trip to Charlotte and I drove an hour in the wrong direction. You reacted casually as though that's just something we typically factor into a road trip.
Love this piece for so many reasons.
It took us a very, very long time to get there.
I really liked this, Diana. I am also thinking of the fantastic contrast between Texas and Ireland, and can supply another contrast if you like.
On the sense-of-direction scale, I would be at the opposite extreme (and, bizarrely, I once talked to a professor about this in Santa Barbara, who was not actually from there (and this only makes sense if you have followed the link, people)). Everyone in my family has a near-perfect sense of direction, such that if you arrived at a family dinner and asked which way was north, we would all stick out our arms like a bunch of Solid Gold dancers.
It would be so much fun to go on a road trip with you and compare our experiences of direction and place! I'll put that up on a high shelf in the room of things to wish for. But hey, if you have time once you're done in Ireland and want to swing by Portugal, I'm ready to go.
Thank you so much for this note, Gregory. You and all of your family members are my heroes! I'm up for the road trip! You're driving! :)
OK, then you're navigating. 😉