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Carol Perkins: GPS Carol Perkins examines the advantages of Global Positioning System devices, and comes to the conclusion that extremely limited: they are only for those who actually follow directions The next earlier Carol Perkins story: Deliver the Letter. The Sooner the Better By Carol Perkins My first experience with a GPS (Global Positioning System) was with some of my friends on a road trip to Atlanta via Boaz, AL. I had traveled this route several times when Guy was working in the area, so I felt I could get us from Edmonton to Huntsville and then to Boaz easily. However, because one of the women had a GPS in her purse, the others thought we should try to follow it just for fun. This gadget was new to all of us. After rummaging through her possessions, the owner pull out the small screen and plugged the cord into the cigarette lighter. Whoever was riding in the front had to hold the GPS up to the window in order to have satellite service. Someone typed in BOAZ, AL and the "voice" took over from there. The GPS was wrong - and overruled - almost at the outset Evidently, we must have told the system to take the shortest route, because it directed us to turn long before I thought we should. "I don't think this is best route," I commented, going against the machine. The driver took my advice. I had taken this "short cut" before and it was not a good drive. However, the GPS woman's voice did not agree and screeched at us, "Recalculating. Recalculating." Once through Huntsville, the voice announced turns far too late for the driver to find the streets, so we ended up turning around and backtracking several times. "Recalculating," she said once again. "Turn left one tenth of a mile on Highway Whatever." We were all looking for the street signs, but none of us could see very far in front of us. First meal in Boaz was a good one: At the Catfish Cabin Finally, we found Boaz, or what was left of it after the outlet malls closed. We tripped around the few open stores and then ate at the Catfish Cabin (one of the best fish places in the area). By then, darkness descended and Atlanta lay many miles before us. I had been from Boaz to Atlanta and knew the way, so I thought, but the GPS didn't think I knew anything. SHE insisted we turn where I insisted we shouldn't. The majority wanted to follow the GPS instead of me, so it served them right that we ended up on the back roads of Alabama at bedtime. Every road we passed, the voice told us not to turn but to continue in the present direction. I was sick of listening to that squeaky voice and to her up-to-date calculations. After a few hours we saw civilization; an interstate. That GPS took us in a circle to enter. "We could have gotten on back there," I insisted, pointing to a ramp behind us. The GPS and Carol did battle the entire trip The GPS and I battled the entire trip. Finally, I was yelling "SHUT UP," and griping it hard as I held it to the window. If it had been a frog, it would have croaked. Those in a fragile mental condition do not need to use a GPS. "Do you think this is the best way?" I would mock. "Recalculating, Recalculating, Recalculating," I chanted. On the morning of our departure, my friends held an intervention and told me it was in my best interest (and theirs) if I not touch or hold the GPS on the way home. Miss GPS smiled. The only person who would argue with a GPS! "You're the only person I know," one of my friends said, "who will argue with a GPS!" "Well, the GPS was wrong!" I have driven all these years by using landmarks as my guide, so I guess I will continue to go from point "A" to point "B" by turning, "down the road and then drive pass the old store on the right, which will lead me to another road where I'll see a blue mailbox....." My personal navigation system hasn't failed me yet. As for a GPS, they are for those who can actually follow directions. About the author: Carol (Sullivan) Perkins is a lifelong resident of Edmonton, KY, in Metcalfe County where she taught high school English at Metcalfe County High School until her recent retirement. She is a now a freelance writer. is married to Guy Perkins and they have two children: Carla Green (Mark) of Brentwood, TN and Jon Perkins (Beth) of Austin, TX and six grandchildren. Her latest book, Let's Talk About, is a collection of over 70 of her works, and she is presently working on the second book in this series. Carol's ties to Adair County go back to Breeding where her grandfather, Rufus Reece, and her grandmother Bettie Strange, began their married life and later moved to Metcalfe County. You may contact Carol at cperkins@scrtc.com or write at P.O. Box 134 Edmonton. If you would like a copy of her book, you can order through email. Watch for her next story next Sunday. IF YOU'VE ENJOYED READING CAROL PERKINS' STORIES on ColumbiaMagazine.com, you'll love her book, "Let's Talk About It. . . ." The books are $15 plus $4 for shipping. Send check or cash or money order to Carol Perkins, P.O. Box 134, Edmonton, KY 42129 They can be bought at the Herald Office in Edmonton, KY, or Terri's Fine Jewelry in Glasgow, KY. This story was posted on 2009-11-15 12:15:13
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Carol Perkins:
Carol Perkins: Deliver the Letter, The Sooner the Better Carol Perkins: The Fortune Teller Carol Perkins: Dating Carol Perkins: The Bird Carol Perkins: The Bullfight Carol Perkins: Right Now in a Minute Carol Perkins: The Harvest Carol Perkins: Worry Wart Carol Perkins: What Page? Carol Perkins: Ma and Pa Kettle View even more articles in topic Carol Perkins |
 
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