but not in a row

I have been reminded, recently, of a joke about a 24-hour convenience store that was closed ... the question ... why are you closing, it says 24-hours! the answer ... but not in a row. we think horizontally ... from memory, automatically. We traverse sharp corners, but when the road curves we often just cannot quite navigate the changes. Consider, the rule ... follow directions to the letter. Walk down two blocks, turn right, walk to the end of the block and enter the building on the left. At the end of two blocks if you turn right you would walk into a brick wall. If you continue walking five feet you would find a side street. Can you find the side street? Maybe not. Why not? Memorization does not require contemplation. Think about it.