Wrong Turns and Other Blessings

Today I set off to do the impossible… well maybe not impossible but surely a pretty hard task. Im going to try and get from Houston Tx to New Orleans La. I promised a dear friend we would spend St. Patricks day together and Ill be darned If Im breaking that promise. You see theres been heavy rains in the area and most of main roads and secondary roads have been closed . So today Im taking the long way around, but to be honest the back roads, long way around is one of my favorites. I head out around 8:00 am the rain has stopped for now and the sun is shining. I put on some good music and take another look at my map. Yes I have a map… using GPS when youre taking the back roads isnt a good idea. Actually its pretty much a sure way to get lost especially in rural Louisiana. I point my car in the direction I think I want to go and head out. My first attempt was met with more flooding so I turned around and headed back to take another side road. This one got me pretty far but once again I met with water and had to retrace my steps. I then decided to try the coastal road so South I went. Driving is my therapy. It gives me time to reflect on my life, family, goals and dreams. Trying to get to the coastal road is a little harder that I thought it would be. After two more turn arounds I finally see the water. I drive along the beach without another car in sight. I decided that after such a long a frustrating drive I deserved a walk on the beach. I take off my shoes and toss them in the seat beside me and head off down the deserted beach. There was a lot of debris that had washed up due to the storm but in my eyes it was still beautiful. I climbed up on an old log and watched the waves for a bit. Reflecting on this trip. It wouldve normally been about 5 hours but as of now its been 8 and I was only half way there.This is life I thought. Its long for most and we spend so much time going down roads and turning around to find the right path. It was never promised to be easy but its definitely worth it.  I think back on the small towns and beautiful fields Id seen today and thought that if I hadnt taken that turn I wouldve missed it. I climb back in the car and head off again to New Orleans and my friend with a renewed sense of fun. The last half of the ride went by quickly , passing little towns and farms. The rain had started up again but it couldnt spoil my mood. Now as I arrive in the driveway of my friends house I look back on my drive and the beauty that i got to see I and I got to see all off it because of wrong turns. Wrong turns are important in life they may not get us where we are going but they show us things that we wouldnt get to see if we just stayed on the path. Point A to B is no way to live … take the backroads make a few wrong turns see whats out there I promise its worth it. Ive spent approximately eleven hours driving today , Ive seen quite towns and New Orleans traffic but I have to say the best part was the wrong turns.