My Dad has called me "Grace" my entire life, as I've tripped over imaginary objects or run into walls. The same holds true for my inability to get anywhere I'm supposed to be. Like, ever.
I've been told more times than I could count how I wouldn't be able to find my way out of a wet paper bag if the instructions were written on the inside.
It shouldn't have been a surprise then, when given a task of finding a location that's both foreign and distant, I'd pretty much be out of luck.
Both our eight year old and seven year old had different school field trips on the same day. My Mom graciously took our youngest on hers while my son and I were able to go with a friend to his.
My friend's name is Christie, and I think she may have thought I was joking when I told her how lost I often got, upon giving her my sad attempt at directions. She probably realized how legitimate that was however, around the time we were supposed to be on the highway, but were passing a field of horses...in the middle of nowhere. It was a beautiful horse pasture mind you, but a horse pasture, nonetheless.
Taking the directions over herself, she was able to find our way to our destination in no time at all, while I sat amazed at her ability.
Moving on through our field trip, it should come to no surprise to you, yes, I got lost. Not only did I get lost, I lost my friend Christie, only to turn and realize I lost my son, too. The last I saw of him, he was with my other friend Jennifer and her son, having the time of his life.
I knew Jennifer would stay with him, so that didn't worry me, I just had to figure out how to find them. We were at a ridiculously amazing museum, but the problem was, it was endless. Countless turns, attractions and every different direction you could go. It was truly a positionally challenged person's own personal nightmare.
Several wrong turns and many texts later, I found Jennifer, found my son and later even found Christie.
The day turned out to be great with more fun than the kids could imagine.
When I called Mom to see how their field trip went as well, the first words out of her mouth were, (true story) "I got so lost just trying to find the place".
At least I know I get it honestly.
Thank you to my directionally challenged Mom and to Christie and Jennifer for such a wonderful day. I couldn't have done it without you.
What could've been an extremely frustrating experience turned out to be one of fabulous memories, forcing me to remember how, "Life is a journey, not a destination".
Even on the days the journey seems to take you past one beautiful horse pasture at a time.