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Tonight I had to drive out to Somerville for an Arisia meeting. On the way there around 7:15, while stopped at a traffic light (merging onto the McGrath near the Museum of Science), the person next to me rolled down their window and called, "Excuse me, what road is this? I answered, "It's the McGrath / O'Brien, also known as Route 28." He called back, "Can you tell us how to get to the Fleet Center?" I glanced over... car full of confused-looking people, out-of-state license plate... describe how to get to the Fleet Center from there? Oy. I called back, "Do you have a map?" They said, "No." Double oy! (I've since checked the F.C. website schedule, and it looks like they were probably going to a Madonna concert.) I must have looked flummoxed, because they said, "We think we missed a turn." "Yes, you probably did." "We'll try backtracking and see if we can figure out where we should have gone." "OK, good luck..." The light turned green, and traffic moved forward. I felt a little badly about not answering their question, but I couldn't think how to give them foolproof directions between those 2 points in a few seconds... hopefully they found their way there.
On the way home after the meeting, again while stopped at a traffic light (this time waiting to turn off the McGrath near the underpass), the guy next to me (also with an out-of-state license plate) rolled down his window and called across, "Excuse me, can you tell me where to find the Cambridge post office?" (This was around 10:30.) I said, "Which one?" He said, "Any one, doesn't matter." I called back, "I don't think any of them are open this late." He said, "I don't need it right now, but I'm new to the area... I just want to know where to find a post office." Oh, okay! That one I could answer... I gave him directions to Central Square. He thanked me happily, the light turned green, and traffic moved forward.
Do I look particularly knowledgeable, or do people just tend to get lost in that area? Or maybe it's both...
On the way home after the meeting, again while stopped at a traffic light (this time waiting to turn off the McGrath near the underpass), the guy next to me (also with an out-of-state license plate) rolled down his window and called across, "Excuse me, can you tell me where to find the Cambridge post office?" (This was around 10:30.) I said, "Which one?" He said, "Any one, doesn't matter." I called back, "I don't think any of them are open this late." He said, "I don't need it right now, but I'm new to the area... I just want to know where to find a post office." Oh, okay! That one I could answer... I gave him directions to Central Square. He thanked me happily, the light turned green, and traffic moved forward.
Do I look particularly knowledgeable, or do people just tend to get lost in that area? Or maybe it's both...
