“Take exit 138A, then take exit 218 onto Creek Turnpike East and then turn onto Mingo Road.”
I grew used to hearing my brother say this on our trips to Tulsa. He was seven, and my mother was fully capable of getting there with the help of her phone. Still, he continued to give directions simply because he could.
At the time, I thought every elementary-aged kid could map out the route from Edmond to Tulsa. It wasn’t until I reached the same age — and could barely navigate the local Walmart — that I realized my brother was special.
My brother Dawson Hill has a true talent for directions.
His first recollection of the gift dates back to 2011 when he was able to navigate several areas of Tulsa despite not being from there.
“We were at the mall, flea market and Big Splash frequently,” Dawson said. “I knew how to get to all three by age five, and my family thought it was crazy. So I realized it was something of a gift.”
One of Dawson’s favorite memories of using his talent happened when he directed his kindergarten teacher to the zoo.
“My elderly teacher Mrs. Owens was flustered on the route we were taking to get there, so I simply explained the easiest way,” Dawson said. “She bafflingly turned to my mother, who was volunteering as a chaperone, and went on and on about how she’s never seen someone so young able to understand directions like I did.”
Dawson likes to say that he believes he is a descendant of the famous explorers Lewis and Clark or Sacagawea.
He definitely is not.
In reality, much of the skill came from his fascination with maps. Rather than playing typical iPhone games as a child, Dawson spent his time on Google Maps, guiding himself through Oklahoma roads.
My brother’s skill often comes in handy. Hiking with Dawson is great because he can retrace the path from memory, preventing us from getting lost. It’s also very useful during rush hour.
“It benefits me to maneuver around local traffic and allows me to remember exactly which roads are busiest and what times to avoid them,” Dawson said. “If you know someone who needs a getaway driver, hit me up, please!”
His talent has also proved useful in times of crisis, such as when there is no phone reception.
“In the middle of the night once, I was driving through farmland outside Mulhall, Oklahoma with a friend and got lost,” Dawson said. “We entered our directions home and then lost cell service. Once I gathered in my head where the nearest highway was, I used my car’s compass to head back to civilization.”
I’m am a little jealous of his skill, considering I need a map to find almost any highway exit — but if he is with me, it’s like having my own personal, funny and sometimes annoying human GPS.
