Who needs a GPS?
Ryan has an intense interest in maps and geography. He can identify most of the 50 states by the shape of their outline; can put together a wooden puzzle of the United States in less than two minutes, without the form board; and can locate countries on the globe whose names most adults couldn’t pronounce. His idea of computer fun, navigating on googlemaps.com. As a result of his map exploration, Ryan can give directions from the Golden Gate Bridge to Seattle and can offer two routes from New Jersey to Rhode Island, without ever having traveled to California, Washington state, or Rhode Island. I tell you this, not to brag, but to impress on you the degree of his interest in maps and directions.
Lately, Ryan has turned into quite the back seat driver, frequently offering alternate routes to and from places we drive. For several days, he insisted that Jermantown Road, a road we pass daily driving home from Connor’s pre-school, turned into Pickett Road, the location of the ice skating rink and a favorite grocery store; for several days, he asked if we could drive home on Jermantown Road; and for several days, I said, “Honey, I don’t think Jermantown Road turns into Pickett Road,” and drove home our usual way… until one day, when we had a bit of extra time – since I knew we were going to have to back-track, I followed his directions… and… we didn’t have to back-track, in fact, we arrived home in record time, after a brief stop at the grocery store!
With that, I have learned… when it comes to directions, Ryan is seldom incorrect. He doesn’t get turned around in buildings and parking garages the way do, he isn’t reluctant to try out a new route, and he has a wealth of map information stored in his mind. Now when I am unsure of whether to turn right or left, I simply ask Ryan. And so I say, who needs a GPS, with a GPR (Global Positioning Ryan) sitting in the back seat!