On Taking Wrong Turns

My husband called me this morning at around 9:10 and asked in his oops-I-forgot-something-voice, "What are you plans for the day?"  At first I sighed, then thought, let's see what it is.  He had forgotten a piece of equipment which he required for his work in the afternoon and wanted to see if I would drive it up to him - about an 80 mile round trip.

I took a deep breath and realized that that was exactly what I needed - a drive in the country so I could wrap my head around some unease I was experiencing.  Just before he called I was fussing with finances and had fallen into my old pattern of worrying and focusing on lack.  In the middle of my pity party, I had this tiny bright thought:  "What a challenge!  I am going to make this work this week!  I know I can make all the bills even though it appears there is not enough to cover them!"  And I smiled.  It made me feel good.  I liked the fact that I could have another perspective, the perspective that I had been working on to replace my old pattern.  But I knew that the old pattern, the old road, was still looming nearby.

I told my hubby I needed to wrap some things up I was working on and would be there in about an hour.  When he apologized for the inconvenience, I smiled again, letting him know that he was providing me with exactly what I needed.  I made a monster cup of my hot chai, put on some comfy clothing, and jumped in my little green CRV.  The sun was shining, it was chilly outside, and I knew the perfect back road to take on the first leg of the journey.

The town where he was, Gower, Missouri, is very rural, so no matter what route I took it would be out in the country.  There is this one road that is a beautiful alternate back road route, and I turned north onto it about 5 miles outside of Liberty, where we live.   There are beautiful country estates dotting the sides of the roads, all surrounded with white fencing, along with tiny old farm houses, new barns, old faded barns, horses, cows, one lane bridges over creeks.  The road is curvy a little bumpy and is in need of repair.  All in all, perfect for the mood I was in.

But something was off.  It just didn't look right.  About 5 miles on the road I realized I was on the wrong road.  Although the terrain of rolling hills and clusters of trees looked familiar, it just wasn't quite right.  I thought maybe it was because I usually only drive south on the road instead of going north on it.  Or maybe I just was not remembering it right.  But I thought for sure that it was the right road.  I mean, I had driven south bound on it a couple of dozen times over the years and I just knew I had come out at the same intersection that I had just turned on to from the main road. 

I decided to just keep going.  I knew I would be okay.   Afterall, I knew that the road had to run north/south between two heavier trafficked county roads that ran east/west, so sooner or later I'd have to come out on the one to the north.  Besides, I was sure I was on the right road even if my senses and memory said otherwise.  I must be remembering wrong.

Before I knew it, I emerged onto the east/west road I thought I would.  I thought, "Gee, I must have really been thinking because I don't even remember going past that little country church, Mt. Olivet!"  Then I looked up at the street sign . . . I was not on the road I thought I was on. 

Oh well.  On I went, enjoying the rest of my drive to Gower to deliver the part to my hubby.  I would solve my mystery on my drive home.

The part safely delivered, I started back and took the turn south onto the road I had though I was on earlier.  Heading south, I soon passed the little church, then along came the familiar ranches and horse farms, the creek at the bottom of the gully, etc.  Yup, this was the right road.  Now where in the devil does it come out at?  I just couldn't picture any other intersection but the one I had originally turned on to.  I was very perplexed.

In about 15 minutes I discovered what had happened, why I had taken the wrong road:  Where the road comes out onto the east/west road at it's southern end, a new housing development had gone up and it altered the place the road intersected with the larger road!  It, the entrance, had simply been moved about 200 yards further west from the old intersection!

Hmmm.  What a nice metaphor for my thoughts that day.  The turn had been moved.  That's all.  I wasn't crazy.  I didn't need to get upset because I wasn't sure where I was.  It had simply been moved.  Not only was the path I thought I was on still there, but I discovered that there was an alternate path, a parallel path, that I had  not even thought existed.  And not only did it exist, but it was a good experience; I enjoyed it.

The next time you take a wrong turn, literally or in any other part of your life, remember it just might not be a wrong turn.  Maybe the entrance to the path has just been moved, that's all.  Remember to trust your memory, your confidence, your sense of direction.  Most importantly, remember to enjoy what you are experiencing right now.  On this path.  There are no wrong turns.

 

 

Comments

[connie]

SIGH, lady, you know how to captivate your audience, AWESOME!!!! =)

[anita]

Hope all is well with you Sandy. Miss you!

[Sandra Wesssman]

Wow, I really enjoyed this Anita! I absolutely love reading your work. It’s always uplifting and inspiring. Keep writing, I look forward to reading many more.