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Given the magnitude of the changes in geography here as well as the national passion for hiking and mountaineering, the Swiss make good maps. And like any good Swiss, Gilles not only carries one with him but also actually uses it. In fact, he is brilliant at map interpretation. Even when we’re not walking on a marked trail, he can easily point out our location on a map after taking a quick look around at the landscape.
Unlike me. I’m not a good map reader, or leader, but I am a good follower. I like it that way and, based on his limited experience trailing my lead, so does he. High on my list of embarrassments: a discussion, overly heated on my part, about which way to go, involving words like “clearly” and “lack of trust” and “just listen to me” – words spoken by me, words that I had to take back when I realized, after sulkily following him a few minutes along his suggested route, waiting for him to stop, turn around, and tell me I was right after all, that we were in fact on the correct trail.
(This seems like it could be the right moment for a shout-out to Lonely Planet for putting a restaurant symbol in the wrong location on the map I used the one time that I volunteered, on our last holiday, to let Gilles put the guidebook down and relax while I put myself in charge of leading us to said restaurant. I swear it was the map that was wrong; … no really, I do.)
So it’s usually him leading the way. This is not to say that I don’t know where I want us to be going. It does mean, however, that with him holding the map, I have no doubt we’ll get there.
What quality do you most appreciate about your husband or partner? If you have your own blog, does he read it? What does he think about it?
I also married a map lover. In fact the first time Kitt and my Dad met they bonded over mutual map love. I was trying to think of one thing about Kitt that I love (don't vomit, but there are so many it is hard to choose). I love that he loves all my idiosyncrasies and indulges my whims. I also love that he is so very down to earth and grounded himself but loves me for my moments when I have my head in the clouds. He doesn't read my blog, although I have said he may. He occasionally glances over my shoulder.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget the nice bum .... Sounds like you've got yourself a great overall package there. And it's cute that he glances over your shoulder!
DeleteI love your post!! Good maps, and using them is SO SWISS of your husband!! The Swiss and their efficiency! hahaha
ReplyDeleteI am completely incapable of reading maps. I get lost everywhere and get angry when I get lost. T bought me a gps for my 30th birthday. BEST present ever!
I think women are just not meant to have a sense of direction. My 5 and 8 year old sons have better sense of direction than I do!! How bad is that?!
To answer your last question: T does not read my blog. He doesn't want to. He says it's my space. Maybe he'll read it one day.
hugs
I know! It's so Swiss I laugh every time.
DeleteI was recently rummaging around in our cellar and found a box for a GPS. With a GPS inside it. Never used, never even touched. It came with his car, which he bought six years ago, and he's never even wanted to use it.
If I drove here, on the other hand ... I'd use it even more than the gas pedal!
Oh, yes, and at our wedding to make sure Kitt's loves were represented I laminated old maps for place settings and our comment book was a suitcase full of travel postcards.
ReplyDeleteAh, that's lovely. Your wedding sounds like it was full of beautiful personal touches. Do you know of the site oldmapsonline dot org? They have some wonderful ... old maps (if you couldn't guess from the site name).
DeleteI'm a horrible map reader! My hubby is very patient. Way more patient than me. He's also a lot less selfish than I am. I try and stive to be those things because of him. He doesn't read my blog, but he knows I have one that I started after my miscarriage last year. I've thought about letting him read it, but I feel like it's still "my" space and I'm not totally ready for him to read it.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that - it's nice to have a space to feel free to write without wondering about what somebody close to you might think. Your husband sounds like a sweetie.
DeleteThis is so funny. I don't think I've ever seen my husband use a map. We have gps so maybe that's why. I actually just told my husband that I made a blog. I don't feel ready to let him read it and he hasn't asked to. I think I'll keep it to myself (and the rest of you) for now. I'm curious now though, do you let your husband read yours?
ReplyDeleteViva the GPS! And to answer your question, haha, I think he hears so much directly from me on this blog's topic that the last thing he would enjoy is reading even more about it ....
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