The woman said, "Which of these buildings is the Ferry Building?"

She was about three blocks from the Ferry Building, so that wasn't precisely the right question.

I said, "That right there is Market Street. Market Street deadends into the Ferry Building. Walk that way, " I said, pointing. "When you see a building with a clock tower, that's the Ferry Building." As she and her husband walked away in the direction I had pointed I called, "In other words, walk three blocks."

When I pray to whatever gods that be in whatever mood I'm in, I try to remember a prayer that they hear the right question, even if I don't ask it. That they ignore my whole prayer, if it's a clueless one that will do more harm than good.