“What Matters is Direction”

Can a hand-drawn map tell us what matters to you?

I recently read Elly Griffiths’ Crossing Places, in which one archaeologist encourages another to consider a map of her living room to help future generations understand her. What, he asks, would be the most important thing to notate?

Inventory, she replies, doubtless thinking that her books and her belongings will be the best guide to her personality.

No, replies the other archaeologist, who quickly annoyed me to no end.