Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Lost & Found

You've got to get lost to get found.

Moving to a new city, there are plenty of opportunities to get lost. For the most part, Seattle makes sense to me. I know how to get to Pike Place Market, Target, the airport, Trader Joe's and my sister's house. That's a good start. Prior to purchasing a map and getting internet access though I was kind of winging it. Where is the hardware store? Um. . . I don't know. I'd like to eat Greek food. . . where is a good Greek food restaurant? If I am out on Aurora Avenue, is there a decent restaurant along that very long strip of road or am I forced to either starve or dine at one of the numerous Teriyaki restaurants? Seattle-ites loves them some teriyaki.

While Dumpling was still here, I had a navigator and someone to take my stress out on as I circled around and around not knowing where the F we were. Case in point: visiting Hillz. She lives in Bellevue. I've been there countless times but have never driven myself there. There is a big difference between being a passenger and being the driver, I quickly found out. Doke and Double B tried to give me directions but the exit they told us to take didn't exist. After taking one exit, with Hillz prompting, we managed to get ourselves to the local market and back on the road. But from there? Trouble.

I went left when I think I should have gone right. I called Hillz again and asked for more direction. I got off the phone and tried to recall everything she had said. But none of it stayed in my brain. I went every which way, including the way I was supposed to go, but still managed to completely turn us around. Everything looks the same! Trees! Trees! Business park! Trees!

There are so many trees.

Dumpling kept saying we needed to call Hillz again but I was being stubborn and feeling like an asshole for not retaining the directions in my head. I finally called her and started crying. Yes. Crying. Getting lost is stressful but getting lost when you are emotionally and physically fatigued and on the brink of a nervous breakdown is WAY worse. Ask Dumpling. He witnessed it.

They managed to get us to her house with me silent, tears running down my face. It'd been a good 24 hours since my last cry and I was about due. Plus, I was experiencing anticipatory grief thinking about how Supple had just left and Dumpling was leaving the next day. All my pieces of "home" would be gone and then what? Can I actually do this!?

Have I mentioned how many trees there are?

Thank goodness for best friends. Between Dumpling and Hillz, I managed to get a grip. I haven't gotten lost since then but I would bet money I will- even with a trusty map and the internet. It's all part of the process.

11 comments:

JustRun said...

I know that feeling... an unfamiliar place where every direction looks the same is just nerve wracking! You're finding your way though and hopefully, you'll still have a couple places where you can get a little lost.

Claire said...

Getting lost can be really stressful when you have to get somewhere. I recommend exploring- it's shares many qualities with being lost except that wherever you end up is totally cool, you're just exploring afterall.

With all the trees, remember the sun is your guidance friend (morning, East; noon, if the sun's at your back, you're facing North; afternoon, West, the ocean). If the sun's not out, a little compass for your car can be quite handy.

Sounds like you've made a good start of getting to know your way around. Don't worry about getting lost... just think of it as mini-adventures in a new city.

Anthony S. said...

You have such good friends...I want to move somewhere, and have friends like that to help me out.

Burgers and beers sounds a-ok to me, too.

Becky said...

Learning how to drive here was such a pain, at first. Even now I approach and intersection with four options and my friends say "soft right." Never had to deal with that before (not to mention poorly-lit street signs when it was dark at 5 p.m.). This is by far one of the most confusing places I've ever driven, so know you're not alone! I bought one of those detailed street maps and that has helped a lot. I saw a Greek restaurant in Fremont, just past the Fremont Bridge, but I don't know if it's any good.

Nihilistic said...

How many trees are there?

Anonymous said...

Get one of those GPS navigation systems ( Tom Tom or Magellan) they are great! They even give you advice on restaurants and directions in english, spanish or french!

Anonymous said...

I printed out directions everywhere I went for the first few months I lived in SF. Frankly, nearly four years later it would be a good idea if I still did that.

Sarcomical said...

it must be exhilarating and scary at the same time to find out all the new places and things that will become Your Life. i kind of envy your opportunity to shake things up, but i understand it's probably very hard.

best of luck, hang in there! ;)

hannahhas said...

I am glad we are closer!

I'll head up there to visit soon, and we can get lost together.

Yay you!

Bill said...

I was at the Pike Place Market. I recall a number of muscle boys tossing fish around. But what I recall best was finding a place somewhere in that market thing they'e got going on there where I could sit down, drink beer and watch the world do its thing.

No great story came out of that, but I recall that as a great afternoon. Drinking beer, getting slowly buzzed and just people watching. Mmmm.

sue said...

Oh, poor thing... I know how scary and frustrating that can be to be lost... hope it soon becomes easier for you. Baby steps, y'know?