Geographically Challenged

Back more than 20 years ago— August 1983, to be precise— I was heading out West from my home state of Wisconsin to spend a year in Washington. On the way, somewhere out in Montana, I happened to fall into conversation with someone. They asked me, "So where are you coming from?"

I said, "From Wisconsin."

They said, "Where are you heading?"

I said, "Washington."

They said, "Washington State or Washington, DC?"

Well, duh. If I'm coming from Wisconsin, why would I be driving to Washington, DC by way of Montana?