I need a Sign!

   I have always said that signs are important. A sign can tell us many things, like where we are and where we are going. Signs are simple maps to help guide and direct people. They can tell us things we want to know, introduce us to new ideas and concepts, sell us on products, and steer us in one direction or another. I love signs, much like I love clear and simple directions when putting together new furniture. After all, what are directions than a series of signs to accomplish a task. Leave out one picture of instruction and you no longer have a couch, you have a set of cushions artfully arranged on the floor.

   And I can tell you I hate places that don't have signs. Nothing like visiting a church on vacation, having to answer the call of nature in the middle of mass, and not knowing where to go. Not as if there were a lot of people I could ask directions during the service. Instead I was forced to wander up and down the corridors in search of the facilities. I found them, but only because someone had left the door open. There was not sign indicating what was behind that wooden door. And yep, I was getting desperate enough to start opening doors and start looking in. Wouldn't that have been embarrassing? And for those of you who ask why I did not go beforehand, I did try before we left for church. Thought I was good. Life just works that way sometimes! Don't ask questions if you don't want to know the answers!

   But with signs, you must use caution as the messenger is as important as the message.

   GPS, for instance, is little more than a complex electronic series of signs to guide you from one location to another destination. One misstep and you may arrive at a destination that you were not anticipating. Request directions from your current location to the state park and find yourself frustrated when you arrive at a remote trail head at one corner of the park, not even close to the main entrance where most visitors would go. Seriously? Not willing to give up so easily, we gave navigation a second chance and decided to find the Lake of Egypt Rec Area. Twenty minutes later, we found ourselves in a subdivision. There was the lake all right, but we did not think that the residents really wanted us trooping through their yards to enjoy the view. Especially since they had a sign for no parking and another that stated resident use only!

   Having come to the conclusion that this messenger was leading us astray, we fell back on the old fashioned methods, maps and road signs. Map did show Lake of Egypt. There was a road noted as Recreational Road, which we took to be a “good sign”. After beginning our drive, we came across one of those brown road signs that read LAKE OF EGYPT 7M with an arrow. Okay, this we could do. So we turned and followed the rolling, winding road for 7 miles. At the end of 7 miles, we found ourselves at a T intersection on the edge of some town. There was one of those little brown signs that read LAKE OF EGYPT 7M, with the arrow pointing back the way from which we had just come. Ummmmm. We consulted the map. We were definitely not at Recreation Road. After several minutes riding in circles around town and a short squabble, we decided that Lake of Egypt was not hidden somewhere between the houses in town and to try and retrace our steps, returning down the road which we had come.

Kid showing lack of sign

   So we were cruising along, looking carefully for Recreation Road, and about 3 miles along our way, I sighted what had once been a sign. Only the posts were left sticking out of a rock base. Off in the brush was another of those little brown signs with an arrow that read LAKE OF EGYPT 2M with an arrow pointing down the unidentified road. There was no brown sign from the direction we had originally taken (I checked) and the actual road sign – well that was not at the corner of the intersection. You know, where the average person would look for it. It was set well back from the intersection. Just past the trees. Perhaps to direct the wildlife.

   I am thinking that either they thought visitors had ESP or they really did not want any. Later learned that the National Forestry used to have a campground there, but had closed it. No surprise to me, not like anyone could have found it without hiring a local guide. I am guessing that visitors went for the easier option of staying at campgrounds that could be found by clear signage. Of course, it is possible that the campground and the sign disappeared at the same time. Still, we didn't encounter many folks taking advantage of the Recreational Area.

   Perhaps one of my most recent favorite signs is one I saw on-line:

HUNTERS

PLEASE USE CAUTION

WHEN HUNTING

PEDESTRIANS

USING

WALK TRAILS

   If you still doubt the importance of signage, ask yourself why are there so many billboards along the highway on the way to the airport.