the atlas map

you had

to have good eyesight

back

in the 80's

and the century before that.

we had to turn

on the dome

light in the car

to read road maps,

not unlike the ones used

by bombardiers

during world

war two.

we'd flip through

a twenty pound atlas

bought

at the Esso station

to plot where you were going.

we had to

read phone books too

chained

inside a booth.

the tiny letters

and numbers,

scrunched up on thin

parchment paper.

everyone wore glasses

back then,

or had a

magnifying

glass and a flashlight

in the glove

compartment.

everyone had a headache

and put

a bag of ice on their head

after taking three aspirins.