Maps....What is it about maps?

The information contained in this story is true, non-poisonous, there is no violence, or sex. Well to bad about the last one there were some mighty fine men in Kentucky and Tennessee.  You may enter herein with no worry about bigotry, racism, gender-ism, religion, or any other "ism."

From Northern California to Hilton Head Florida, although not in one trip.  Oh yeah, let's not forget, Ireland, England, and Scotland! Some trips were long, just not that long. I am a topography fan, both in the maps and geo-biological sense. (Got an "A" in Geo-biological Science. Yahoo!)  Oops...this might be an "ism," for which I humbly beg your pardon.

Man, I can digress better than I can cook. Ha! Ha! Ha! Did I say humble? :>)

Back to the story, oh yeah, the story. What is it about maps that brings out the best in most people? In all my travels it is unbelievable, but true, that when I get my map out, it draws people to me like a magnet to nails.

In a small town in Arizona, I am talking about 35 people, okay maybe 50, I
was sitting in the local (only) coffee shop with several maps spread out before me. It could have been that my eyes started spinning like windmills from jumping from one map to another, or simply their better nature. Be the reasons what they may, over walked a man and a woman. We will call them Bill and Ada. My food order had not even been taken and they were drawn to me in the manner which I described earlier.

"Are ya lost (accent on the "t")?, asked Bill, looking gleeful.

"Awh," chirps up Ada, "Don't believe a word he says. He's "awhways" getting lost (accent on the t" -- it's a local thing). I remember one time, back "awhwhile" he ended up in Tempe instead of up here in Flagstaff. How someone couldn'ta noticed they were in the flatlands who "awhad" lived his whole (you can add the awh, I am tired of it) dang life in the mountains is beyond me."

"Ada, what are you talking about?" I was justa havin' me a little aventure (intentional misspelling). I had wanted ta go to Tempe. In fact I'ma thinking of moving down there to retire. It's a hell...excuse me miss, heck of a lot warmer than these mountains."

Ada laughed so hard at his reply she almost fell into the booth where I was sitting. She tried to stop laughing, but giggles and hiccups kept sneaking out every once and awhile. It made me laugh as well, which of course made it worse.

Watching these carrying ons with disgust written all over his face, Bill leaned in to move Ada out of the way.

"Well? he asked.

I did not know how to reply to this one word question. In this conversation I was truly lost, if not in my topographical location. So, I just stared up at him, tilted my head, and raised my right eyebrow.

"Are you lost or not?" asked Bill with an exaggerated pause between each word.

"Ah, well, no." I sputtered between giggles.

"You see, it's just that I am in love with maps."  Bill's eyes nearly disappeared from sight as they rolled upwards.

"Where you from." He asked.

I was afraid to tell him because at the time I was living in Southern California.
Of course I 'fessed up, albeit reluctantly. Bill shook his head and snort-groaned, honest that is what it sounded like. He had one word for me.

"Figures." Ada started giggling again and Bill took her arm and steered her away from me. I looked after them giggling myself. Ada turned her red face back to me, waved, and mouthed, "Bye now."

Do you have any travel stories you'd like to share? I would sure love to hear them.

Later, ya'awhall. (I couldn't resist.)