I’m thinking of having this made into a big button to wear on my coat whenever I’m out and about in town.
I might look trustworthy (if I didn’t, I don’t suppose I’d get asked as much!); but more often than not, I feel absolutely useless when it comes to giving directions to people how to get to a place - especially if they’re driving (as I don’t drive in town myself, and never keep in my head which streets are open for traffic and which I can only use when walking). But I’m afraid I’m not always much use to pedestrians either, as I’m not all that good at remembering street names and numbers. Knowing how to get there myself is one thing; giving directions to somebody else is another matter!
Today, having been into town for some groceries in the morning, I was sitting on a bench waiting for my bus back home, when a young immigrant woman (pushing a pram) came up to me and waved a piece of paper about and asked me for help. The heading told me she was looking for the Public Dental Service. So I told her to go past a nearby kiosk, cross the street and she’d be there. For some reason this answer seemed to confuse her a little; but she did toddle off in the direction I pointed ut.
So I was happy with myself until I’d got on my bus; and then my brain woke up and started throwing doubts at me. Okay, I visited that dental service once – but how many years ago? 15? 20? (I only went there for an emergency once when my regular dentist was out of town…) And didn’t I notice, only a few weeks ago, a sign with that name (public dental service) on a completely different building in another street, in the exact opposite direction? and didn’t that make me reflect that “oh, they must have moved”…??
When I got home, I googled. It seems the Public Dental Service actually has surgeries/offices in both those places in central town. As I did not look for a street address on the letter, I can only hope I happened to point her to the right one. She might still have had difficulties finding that one though, as the entrance is from the other side of the building…
Could someone tell me, please, why my brain seems to still keep outdated and more or less useless memories on top for easy access, while it pushes the fresher ones off to the back, from where it takes ages (or at least many minutes) to dig them out??
Linking (possibly a little bit off the mark) to
Friday My Town Shoot Out: Personal
The images are from recycling/closed loop festivities going on in town on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago.
