The Beaten Path

This morning I decided to go to a different farm stand to get the corn on the cob.  Today is the day that the college students arrive in town, and I wanted to avoid any possible traffic.  The "new" place I wanted to go to is the opposite direction from town.  I happened to notice it because Amy Dickinson posted a picture of it on Facebook.

There are a dozen or so places I go regularly, and the truth is,  I generally always travel the same route, which is my preferred way to travel.  If I know the way, that's the way I want to go.

I looked on the map to see the location of this farmer's market, where I have never been.  I even wrote down the directions.  Right off of the main highway, and then a left off of that onto the road with the farm stand.

First, I went past the right turn off the highway, with my mind wandering, I guess! First thing I know, there is the next town in the distance.   I had to turn around and re-trace my steps back to make the appropriate turn.   To make a long story short,  I made four wrong turns on that relatively short, simple route to the farm!!  (In my defense, the roads had no name signs!)

I was thinking about getting so lost on the way home and wondering how that could have happened.  The first thing that I realized is that if I am not going to my dozen or so familiar places, then Gerry is driving.  When one is not driving, they do not really observe the way to get somewhere.  The other thing I realized  (besides my severe absence of a sense of direction) is that typically I always stick to the beaten path.

As a rule, I would say that is not a bad idea.  But sometimes, when one is driving, it is helpful to know an alternate route.  That is especially true when it comes to detours and road construction and such.

If I am driving in an unfamiliar town or city  (though it is not usually me doing so) and I encounter a detour sign, I have a panic attack,  because I do now know the way.  When one has no sense of direction,  not knowing the way can be a serious challenge.  Why, I have always imagined that a person could make a wrong turn in a big city and be lost for weeks!!  It is a scary thought!

Today's little journey off the beaten path did take me back down memory lane.  On one wrong turn, I saw a sign saying "Happy Way Day Care".   Daughter Joy spent some time there when she was young, though I am sure the sign was in front of a completely different house!  But that was 25 years ago, so who knows!

I am happily at home now, no worse for the wear.  I hope the sweet corn was worth it!   Sweet corn on-the-cob is something we only eat for the few weeks in the summer when it is fresh.

Maybe next time I need some, I'll go back to the farm stand where I know the way!!