The Garmin gods must be laughing

So these days almost everybody has given up paper maps and have some sort of electronic device that tells them where to go and how to get there. I suppose the transition is much like the giving up the sextant.

Of course we have to have the latest and greatest in technology so most trips we take, long and short, are directed by a Garmin Nuvi. And what could be simpler? You type in the address and the nice lady,an all knowing; all seeing; navigational guru gives step by step directions on how to get from point A to point B. She also nicely points out at every single exit off the highway that we should "stay left".

AND if we should by chance need to take a break of some sort (you know eating, peeing, or eating) the *nice* lady patiently says she is "recalculating" as if we were some sort of recalcitrant teenager. All of which is fine because eventually (after eating, peeing, or eating) we get right back on track and happily following her directions to our destination.

However, lately our really nice Garmin Guru has been leading us in circles, literally giving directions that caused us to drive in a big circle. Seriously, the instructions were: Turn left, continue two blocks, turn left, continue two blocks, turn left, continue two blocks, arriving at destination. (Oh, and the voice of the guru sounds so very proud of us when we manage to follow her instructions and actually make it to where we wanted to go.)

So I figure there must be a group of Garmin gods sitting around someplace just thinking up ways they can mis-direct us just to see if we'll follow and then rolling with laughter at our confusion. The kicker is we keep right on following the navigational guru's directions.

I am all for keeping up with the latest technology, and will continue to use the Garmin for directions. But I think from now on there will be a paper map in the vehicle too just in case the Garmin gods continue to use us for their own entertainment. Besides paper can always be put to good use in other ways especially if a detour is needed to eat, pee, or eat. At least a paper map doesn't have to recalculate.