And Away We Go

Long, long ago, gas stations used to distribute free road maps as a service to their customers. This appears to have begun around 1913. During the 1950's and '60s my Dad had an impressive collection, alphabetically arranged, always perfectly folded back into their original direction. That guy can fold a map! I watched in awe as he did it perfectly every time, then beg for a chance to try it, always ending up with an upside-down mess. It is still a sore spot, so I am relieved that paper road maps have gone the way of the dodo.

When we'd set off on a trip, out came the Rand McNallys and the routes were planned. Occasionally a crisp new map would join the collection -- a new destination, or maybe Ohio had become a little dog-eared. I remember being allowed to go in to the gas station and choose the new ones from a wall rack. There were maps devoted to single states, some to larger cities. Because the states in New England are so small, they were often grouped on one map. For a long time I was convinced that New England was actually one large state.

The family cars were always stocked with safety items in the glove compartment or the trunk. A tire gauge, a snow scraper, a first aid kit, a blanket, and a few local road maps.  My first car was no exception. Over the next few years, and several more cars, I began my own collection. My road trip radius expanded to New Hampshire (skiing), Vermont (love), New York (in-laws), and Maine (vacation). I used them all, and still couldn't fold them.

According to my sources, road maps were discontinued as a free courtesy to gas consumers in the 1970s due to cost-cutting measures and expensive fuel prices. They could still be purchased for a nominal charge, but somehow that took a little something small-town away from them. I still had my handful. I also had two little kids, a dog, and not so much money, so for a while there the farthest I went away from home was the supermarket. I did not need a map.

Fast-forward it was time to take a kid on college tours, then to college. Out came the maps. Fast- forward again and there's the internet, Google Maps, Map Quest, GPS. Those 1970's paper road maps are really pterodactyls now. They are not old enough to be vintage collectibles, nor will they become old enough in my lifetime (unless I live to be 138). The torn and taped ones (still not folded entirely right) have gone to paper heaven. But I have discovered a great reuse for the ones that are still in good shape.

They make wonderful wrapping paper.