A certain man was traveling to Memphis, and as he drove along the highway, he saw one of those big green road signs that said, “Memphis, 250 miles.” This was not unusual, but what was unusual was the cluster of cars, tents, and Winnebagos around the base of the sign. Curious, he decided to stop.
As he walked up, a man stepped out of the closest Winnebago, and greeted him. “Greetings!”
“Hello,” the traveler said. “What are you all doing here?”
“What does it look like?” the man said. “We’re going to Memphis.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Ten years or so. Or thereabouts.”
“But that is not going to Memphis. You’re just living right next to the sign to Memphis.”
“Ah, but we know how many rivets are in the sign. And what kind of green paint it is. And how much they used. And the kind of concrete the posts are in. Do you know all that stuff?”
“No,” said the traveler, heading back to his car. “And I don’t have time to learn. I have to be in Memphis by five.”