David Friedli

By the Dashboard Lights

04/23/09

DPS

My daughter’s voice on the other end of the telephone was stressed. “Dad. I’m lost.”

Break out the DPS: daddy positioning service. “Where are you?”

“I don’t know. If I knew, I wouldn’t be calling you.”

Point well taken. I rephrase the question by making a statement. “OK, call out a street sign when you see one.”

“Alright….I’m on Maple Street…I’m trying to get to the Old Market...”

Good, I think. She is in Omaha. At least she isn’t driving around some cul de sac in some obscure neighborhood that sprung up in the last three years.

“…and I just passed 52^nd Street.”

My DPS kicks into gear. I didn’t grow up in Omaha, but three decades of traveling to Nebraska’s biggest city to shop, visiting the parents-in-law and taking graduate classes have given me a general familiarity with the street system.

“OK, I am assuming you are going east.” This is a critical question that I hope she can answer. I put the chances as better than 80-20 she will know.

“Yep. Just passed 50^th. Going east.”

I give a sigh of relief. She’s inherited some directional genes from the Y-chromosome side of the family. I get lost…but I am almost always certain what direction I am headed.

“OK, just keep going on Maple Street, because it is going to take you the direction you want to go.” In my mind, I see storefronts and shops passing by. “Continue on Maple and it will gradually curve to the right and ultimately changes into Saddle Creek Road. That’s good.”

There is silence on the other end of the line. I ask the question I know the answer to, and one that is both reassuring and troubling: “Are you talking on your cellphone while you are driving?”

“Well, of course.”

Hmmm. Risk and reward. “Drive carefully.”

“Dad, I’m at a huge intersection. There are three different arrows. Where do I go?”

My mind races trying to visualize the corner. “Straight, I think. Maybe it says Saddle Creek Road, like that yuppie record company, Saddle Creek Records? And maybe a Target Store on the right?

“It’s closed, but yeah, looks like an old Target. I’m on Saddle Creek.”

“Then you’ll go under Dodge Street, then turn left.” It is silent again for half a minute. “Maybe you can turn on Harney?”

“How about Dewey?”

“Dewey is great. That will take you east. Then it will meet up to Harney, and that will take you to the Old Market. You’re going in the right direction.”

“Thanks, Daddy. I can make it now.”

DPS over and out.