How to go from A to B; following the Interstate; trivia about U. S. Routes and the Interstates; Sights along Highway 80 - "a verdant cultivated field hit by Agent Orange"; quivering pine needles along the walking trail; "Not all those who wander are lost."

When I started writing earlier, I was trying to make my way to the reason for having lunch at Golden Corral. I needed to get a check, as soon as possible, to the insurance company. (Another wonderful unexpected expense.) So I thought I'd hand-deliver it.

I'd always thought that when someone wanted to go from point "A" to point "B," they employed some kind of mental map. But I now know that's not the case.

I would be willing to guess that most people use landmarks. Or some kind of grid system: go six blocks, then turn left and go for two blocks. I'm surprised at the number of people I've met who have no idea of cardinal directions: north, south, east, west. That may be the reason so many folks have trouble with maps.

My first thought was to go west and swing on to I-55 south. But then it struck me, I could backtrack to the road that leads to the restaurant but go in the other direction bringing me to I-20 west. A much simpler and much shorter route. Which is what I did.

However, there was some ongoing construction as I turned onto I-20. This ongoing construction has been ongoing for several years, and the lanes and exits change about every three months. But I quickly figured out which lane I needed.

From that point on, the next four or five miles of I-20 are the oldest section of any Interstate in the area. What I always notice are how narrow the lanes are. And that you have to know exactly where the exits are, or you'll zip by them.

I got the exit right. But then I couldn't figure out to turn into the parking lot of the insurance office. I had the same problem the last time I visited.

On my way along the Interstate, I'd noticed that traffic was bumper to bumper going east. So rather that use the Interstate to return home, I bypassed it and turned on to old Highway 80. This is one of the cross country U.S. Routes that date from the 20s or 30s. The Interstates follow similar paths but construction didn't start until the 50s. The original thought was to have a way to move military convoys as speedily as possible.This was one of Dwight Eisenhower's big projects. In fact, it originally was called the Eisenhower Interstate System.

If you look at a map of the U.S., you'll notice that the Interstates are numbered in reverse order to the old U.S. Routes. Along the Mississippi coast, you'll find old federal Highway 90 and Interstate 10. Then look near the Canadian border, and you'll discover I-90 that runs from Seattle to Boston. U.S. Route 10, at one point, ran from Michigan to Seattle. (See Wikipedia - United States Numbered Highways for more info.)

Highway 80 was at one time the main thoroughfare for the central part of the deep south. Alas, such is no longer the case. It reminds me of a cultivated field that was once vibrant and verdant with life that has been hit by Agent Orange.

Not a single building seems to still have its original function. Pawn shops, check cashing places, cheap motels, dumpy cafes, used car lots abound. And I'm almost certain that every structure has been re-painted, usually in some noxious shade of blue, red or yellow.

Everything seemed out of place, as though I were peering at the world through glasses prescribed for someone with acute astigmatism. Or like some animated movie, in which the buildings suddenly scrinch together. Or maybe the peyote you had with your cornflakes was a little overdried.

When I got back to my area of the world, I stopped at the walking trail and made two quick rounds. By then, the wind had picked up, and I noticed how much the pine needles were quivering. I considered a third trek but felt that might not be a good idea.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend pointed out a bumper sticker that said, "Not all those who wander are lost - The Octagon."

After some web searching, I realized the line is part of a poem from Tolkien.

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."

But I'm still puzzled by "The Octagon." A role-playing or computer game? Or maybe a rehab group - like YANA - "You Are Not Alone"? Or something of spiritual derivation.

PAX!