Sometimes we find ourselves zipping along in the wrong direction…
Have you ever been driving in an unfamiliar city and suddenly realize the highway has branched and you’re in the wrong lane? And the next thing you know, you’re on a bridge, which immediately feeds into a tunnel? What should you do when this happens?
- Panic.
- Make an illegal U-turn at the first opportunity.
- Take the next exit and hope you can figure it out from there.
- Keep driving until you find a place you can turn around and head back the way you came.
- Vow to stay home so you’ll never get lost again.
Life is full of unexpected detours, missed exits, wrong turns and bad directions.
- Sometimes we can see what’s coming and choose a different route before it’s too late.
- Sometimes it’s OK to keep going and enjoy the scenery.
- Sometimes we need to make a U-turn.
U-turns aren’t just for drivers
Years ago my husband and I went skiing in Austria. Feeling cold and stiff after a long day of skiing, we decided a roast in the sauna would hit the spot, so we donned bathing suits, grabbed some towels and trudged down to the Gasthaus sauna facility. I was a few steps behind my husband, dreaming about how nice that warm air was going to feel on sore muscles. When we arrived at the sauna, my husband took one step inside the door, stopped, turned around and marched back into the hallway. “You don’t want to go in there,” he said, taking my arm and guiding me back towards our room.
Apparently it was a clothing-optional sauna—which, for us, would have been so foreign and awkward that we would not have enjoyed ourselves. So we skipped the sauna and enjoyed lots of other things.
U-turns aren’t always convenient, but sometimes they are necessary.
What memorable U-turn stories do you have?
Are there some journeys where you wished you’d made a U-turn much sooner?
Are there times you wondered what would have happened if you’d kept going?
Shelly K says
Oh my goodness…I would have been mortified as well 🙂
I do have to ask, did you question him? I know I tend to be as curious as a cat (er…some cats) and would have at least had to know right then & there just why he was steering me away. Not for lack of trust, just that inquisitive minds must know! LOL
Lisa says
Having lived in Germany, I think he suspected the potential lack of bathing attire. And no, it did not occur to me to question him. I am not naturally suspicious, nor do I insist in seeing things for myself.
J'nell Ciesielski says
Haha! I was stationed in Germany for three years and know those saunas well. Not from frequenting! I hate losing my way, I’m too organized to enjoy it. But there have been a few times when we’ve veered off the planned route and had a great time.
Lisa says
There are times when we are on a schedule and need to get to our destination. But when we are not in a time crunch, why not take the opportunity to explore? We have stumbled upon some very cool/interesting/not-to-be-believed places quite by accident. I’m glad I didn’t miss them simply because they were not on our planned itinerary.
Kathleen Rouser says
I’m directionally challenged and work for a temp agency, so occasionally I am sent to unfamiliar areas. At the end of a tiring day I admit there are times, which for some unknown reason, I turn out of the dentist office parking lot the wrong way! Sometimes I drive two blocks, other times close to two miles before I realize I’m heading in the opposite direction should be going. I try to think of those times as enjoying the scenery or learning about a new place, instead of a lost time. ☺
Lisa says
A great attitude. I also have some directional challenges, but my biggest problem is autopilot. If I am not careful, autopilot will take over and I find myself heading to the church when I meant to go to the library. Usually I catch myself early enough to switch plans and enjoy the scenic route instead of the direct route.