Maps and business cards

I spent a couple of enjoyable hours yesterday poring over maps of Southern California thinking about the route I would take after leaving Brother Bob and Stephanie’s house in Anaheim. My plan is to end up in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I’ve travelled through the Park before, but have never camped there. I plan to camp in the Cleveland National Forest on my way there and I am particularly looking forward to visiting Palomar Observatory, which I haven’t seen in a long time. There are many larger telescopes now, but when I was growing up and until 1993 the 200-inch Hale telescope was the largest in the world. I love looking at maps and remembering or imagining what is to be found along the various routes as well as areas not even close to roads identified as “Other Roads”. It is noted for “Other Roads” on the AAA map that, “Many of the roads in remote areas of this map are suitable for only high-clearance and/or four-wheel drive vehicles. Road conditions vary, and many are impassable except in summer months. Inquire locally before travelling.” That sounds so inviting to me. It reminds of the places I’ve seen backpacking where there was no road at all. Whether on a highway or at a campground I’ve reached after a long backpacking trip, I have always been curious about what lies around the bend or just over the hill. My left knee bothers me enough now to keep me from any more backpacking.

Dianne was kind enough to design and run off “business cards” for me. As I travel, I sometimes get well enough acquainted with people I meet along the way that we exchange contact information. Up until now, I’ve written down my name and whatever contact information I wanted to disclose (usually my e-mail address) on a scrap of paper. Now that I’m retired, I am no longer associated with an organization, nor do I have the identity that comes with such an association. I wasn’t sure what identity beyond my name and how to get in touch with me should be included on the card, so I eventually decided my name alone would identify me. People who found themselves in possession of one of my “business cards” would have to fill in the details of who I am for themselves. I smile thinking of people finding the card after a couple of years and asking themselves, “Who in the hell is Brad Smith?”