Maps

Lost in Roma, Marilyn pulls out a map.

...

Eunice: You any idea where we are?

Marilyn: Give me a minute.

Eunice: We have five minutes before the bus leaves.

Marilyn: I’ll get us back. Trust me.

Eunice: Four.

Marilyn: Pretty map. Trouble is, they’re such picturesque deceptions.

Eunice: We’re going to miss it. I just know it.

Marilyn: Got it. It’s behind this fountain. We’re actually there.

...

Mapmaker's story

We need a story. It needs to be a strong enough story to become a scenario.

I have a story.

Yes.

A man.

A good start.

He took three journeys in his life.

Three.

The first was in his 20's. He set off with no plan and just wandered from place to place. He returned having seen a lot of places, met a lot of people, learned a lot, but felt he had missed something from not having prepared well.

He took his second journey in his 40s. This time he prepared well; he had maps, and a plan. On returning he reflected that he had seen a lot, missed very little, but had only received, not given much to people he met along the way.

His last journey he took in his 60s. This time, he took a map, as before, but before going he learned how to draw. He saw a lot, missed little, met a lot of people, and taught people along to way to draw maps. He returned home feeling he had given and received on this his final journey.

The story has good structure. It's a nice myth. But as it is, it's not a movie script. It's hard to film a myth. Too structured, too simple, too solemn.

I developed the story from a mathematical formula. It's a three part story. Each part has two elements. Part one: 0-0. Part two: 0-1. Part three: 1-1.

But you need to put flesh on the skeleton. We need to know who he was. When he lived. Where he went. Why he went travelling. How he got around.
...

A man without a map is like a ship without a rudder

I arrived at Ikebukuro Station this morning. I hadn’t been there for a year and the station has north, south, west and east exits and I had forgotten which one. I try north first. Outside it is grey buildings and a clamor of colored signs. I look for the bus stop. No luck. OK, backtrack. Try the east exit. Looks the same so I ask a passerby, “You know the Number 23 bus stop?” Blank stare. Backtrack again, try the west exit. It looks the same as the other two, except there is a PARCO department store towering above all although I could have sworn there was a PARCO at each of the north and east exits also. This time there is a group of policeman trying to separate two groups of angry teenagers intent on having a fight. I draw one police aside. “Where is Bus Stop 23?” He looks at me surprised. “Here! See!” I am standing right at it. I flush with shame. Me, Mapmaker, LOST!?

It reminded me how similar areas outside Japanese stations look. I wasted 10 minutes blundering around Ikebukuro getting annoyed with myself for not having prepared properly.

Resolve:

If going to a new location, carry a subway map and an area location map.

Check the station exit gate AND gate number.

Station transfer and exit maps on pillars (showing what carriages are nearest the exit you want on arrival at a station) can help prepare for arrival.

Also a small compass can help in orientation.

This is SUCH SIMPLE STUFF. But I need to remind myself of it periodically.