Today I headed out to the dentist for a routine cleaning to be done by the charming Yolanda, whose bark is thankfully much worse than her bite. (I do sometimes wonder if one of the character traits required for dental hygienists and their bosses is mild sadism, but anyway...). I missed the freeway exit. I have no idea why this happened; I suddenly realized it as I saw the next sign. "Why am I seeing a sign for University Ave.," I said. Fortunately, there are surface streets to get from where I was to where I wanted to go. (The first time I ever heard the phrase "surface streets" was in L.A. about 15 years ago; given the number of freeways there, I suppose that makes sense. It's a useful phrase, I've decided).
This reminded me of the last time I missed an exit in this distracted sort of way. I was 16, and I'd just gotten my driver's license. My dad was recovering from a hernia operation at Bethesda Naval Hospital (in those days they held you for three days before releasing you; when I had a similar operation a few years ago it was an outpatient procedure), and I was detailed to go pick him up. This involved driving around the Beltway in D.C. from the Virginia side to the Maryland side of the District, finding the correct exit, and then getting to the hospital. Damned if I didn't miss the exit, and, being the inexperienced driver that I was, I drove all the way around the Beltway to try to find it again. I was thus about two hours late getting there. Do I need to say my father was pretty angry?
Posted by Linkmeister at September 29, 2003 03:58 PMSo funny. I guess you had no idea how large the beltway actually was...
Posted by: bunny at September 30, 2003 03:22 AMNope. According to this, it had only been completed two years earlier. There's a nice map attached to that link.
Posted by: Linkmeister at September 30, 2003 10:16 AMI can see how that might have made him a little annoyed with you. :) But what an accomplishment negotiating the Beltway at 16! I'm beginning to wonder if we're going to even make it to the driver's test in this house.
Posted by: Raye at September 30, 2003 10:49 AMRaye, if you're in the middle lanes, it's like driving at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or something; one big circle. ;)
Posted by: Linkmeister at September 30, 2003 10:55 AM:) Didja listen to tunes while you went in a big circle?
I kind of wish we had a Beltway here. It would cut down on my panic attacks.
Posted by: Raye at September 30, 2003 03:35 PMGrins...lessee, 1967. If I listened to tunes, it was probably Beatles or Motown on Top40 radio. My god, that was pre-NPR! ;)
Posted by: Linkmeister at September 30, 2003 03:42 PM