Anyone who works knows we must have an area meeting sometime. Yesterday was my day. Off to a town I knew nothing about. I had fine beginning, set my alarm for 5:30PM so got up late, needless to say. Flew around getting ready and already thirty minutes behind. Three hours from my destination, I felt fairly confident since I had seen this town from the freeway. No big deal, right?!
At meeting time I am still driving through this town looking for the meeting place. A building comes into my view with several seniors leaving. I whirl in to see if anyone is from this town and to get directions. A sweet white-haired angel offers to guide me there so I hop back in my car to follow her. She guides right to the front door and even gives me a hug.
The meeting is the standard you-are-doing-a-great-job-but...
Instead of enjoying the great lunch they served, I decided to see if I remembered where I left my car. I did not. I walked through three parking lots and finally found my car. Thank God I had not washed it or I would never have found it!
Leaving the meeting I confidently turned onto the road as if I knew where I was going. Thirty minutes later I knew I had no ideal where I was. I did get to see some wonderfully huge houses in my travels. I asked directions from four people and each one gave me the "easiest" directions. I asked a store clerk, a Lutheran cook, a person walking and a police officer!
By this time I have been driving for over an hour. I finally call my relief worker who has a photographic memory. She said where are you? If I knew that, why would I be calling? I said I see bales of hay in a field and no signs. She said do you see a log house on the right and next you will see this. She laughs and said I know where you are, just stay on the phone I will get you back home. I am almost hysterical because I am a control freak and do not like being lost. She talks me through and an hour later I am back in familiar territory.
A trip that should have taken me three hours has now turned into four and a half. I now realize how tense I was because my arms and hands are hurting where I have gripped the steering wheel. My legs are killing me from constantly shifting. My poison oak has kicked back in and I am weak in all joints!
I stop for chocolate, caffeine and nicotine...my three vices. I am now headed home on a road I know.
I know there are angels out there because I met a few today.
