Life Takes a Detour

"Get ready for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!" I cheerfully announced to my passengers.
One Sunday, early in my career as a real estate agent, in 2004, I had the extreme pleasure of taking an out-of-town couple on a tour of California's finest properties from Saratoga to Los Altos. Dan, a mountain of a man, 6'4"and 300 lbs, a true Charles Atlas imitation, barely fit his massive frame into the front seat of my over-sized Chevy Tahoe.

Sarah, his petite wife, who stood no taller than the mid-section of his stomach, needed a step stool to crawl into the back seat. Once they had both securely belted themselves in, we headed out for the adventure of a lifetime.
Every detail of the housing-hunt was carefully plotted and planned. Only the homes that completely met their criteria, from the numerous bedrooms, in-door spa and tennis court right down to the brush-nickel bathroom fixtures, were pulled from the Multiple Listing Service. I didn't want to waste any of their precious time.

On the console beside me, a map with each right and left hand turn highlighted in bright yellow stared back at me, giving me that extra ounce of assurance and confidence I needed. I'd know exactly where to go. No stone was left unturned in preparation for this exploration. I had gone over and above in my diligence to be the best agent they'd ever experience - and off we went.
Due to my typical inept ability to read any kind of map (even when highlighted) we drove in circles for the next hour until we finally arrived at our first destination. An elegant five-bedroom craftsman style home. The new construction was an exact replica of the homes built in the early 1900's right down the low, gentle sloping roof and dormer windows to the wide porch and distinctive square pillars.

Surrounding the property was a lush, green garden filled with bright pink hydrangea bushes and inside, a gourmet kitchen that would make even Julia Child drool. Their inspection only lasted about five minutes before I heard Sarah say, "Sorry, Jackie, way too cutesy for us." And back in the car we went to find the contemporary tri-level home that was just around the corner.
From their remarks about being too charming and adorable, I was sure this next home would be the right fit.
"I hope this next one is easier to find," I thought to myself, as I looked in both directions leaving the circular driveway. "Do I turn right or left? I hope I find it soon. I'm getting hungry."
After looping and traversing the neighborhood for what seemed an eternity (not realizing the home was just one street over), we finally pulled up to a stark, black and white monstrosity that resembled the mother ship from the movie, "Star Wars."
"Ah, a little too contemporary," was all Dan could say, but then added, "I'm not sure this will be the right city for us. It takes too long to get from one place to the next."
Sweat began to pour down my back. My exceptionally styled hair was beginning to go limp. Panic settled itself in the pit of my stomach and my overwhelming fear came not from whether I would eventually find them a home to buy. No, my terror came from knowing I was once again totally lost in this small suburban town. The first two houses where only a quarter mile apart and had taken me an hour and a half  to find. How long would the next one take?
In my career, I'm been given the nickname "the realtor with no sense of direction." To say I'm geographically challenged puts it mildly. I eventually find my way, but it's typically by every alternate route the town provides.

A detour is the different road taken when there is construction blocking the originally intended road. I guess you could say, when I am behind the wheel, construction seems to be everywhere.
The road of life has detours too. How many of you are living the path you planned for yourselves long ago?  I know I am not.  At twenty-two, I had visions of what was to be on the golden highway that lay ahead. I'd be a school teacher, married and raising ten wonderful children. I'd be living in the town where I grew up and sell my paintings in art and wine festivals on the weekends. But the only thing that did come to fruition was the kid part. I had four wonderful children - not ten (thank you GOD!!!  What was I thinking?). I also ended up with a life that far surpassed anything I could have ever wished for.
Detours can also derail us in our emotional development. Death, divorce, rejection or a crippled self-esteem can throw individuals completely off track, blanketing the trail in a dark and obscure fog. We feel lost, lonely, broken and angry. God becomes someone we have issues with because our situation feels unfair. But then one day, the cloud lifts, the sun shines again and the pain eases. The heavy load you were carrying is gone and you begin to see all that you have learned from this latest "experience from hell." You actually grew emotionally, became stronger, learned fascinating things about yourself.  You endured it all and became a survivor! What an empowering feeling.
It's those twists and turns that are our most significant educator. They are the ones that give you your PHD in living. Highly successful people are not that way because they experience fewer difficulties. They are accomplished because of the way they took on life's hardships and how they dealt with them and what they learned from them.
As I continued on my exploration with Dan and Sarah, our conversation centered more around my Lewis and Clark exploration of Saratoga than any of the houses.
"Jackie, have you been drinking?" Dan giggled,  as we ended up on the freeway going south.
"No," I answered laughing. "But I plan to as soon as I drop you off."
"I think we need to join you. This has been one crazy adventure," Dan smiled, as he patted me on the shoulder. "We can look again tomorrow, only this time I'm driving."
Just like that early expedition in 1803 to the Pacific Coast, I had no idea where I was going but forged ahead hoping for the best.
So, now when Tim rolls those beautiful big blue eyes as I make the wrong turn (again) or my girls scream in horror because I am driving down the wrong side of a one, I simply say, "Hey, life with me is adventure!" I don't stay lost forever and we get to experience areas I didn't know existed because of my wayward ways.
Don't be afraid to take detours from time to time. The most wonderful aspect of being lost is what you will find along the way. You might even find the real you.