It’s between the baseball field and the golf course

I got lost yesterday. I was late. I was embarrassed. It felt like the first day I set foot on the college campus I graduated from.

Here’s a litte back history about me: I’m from a small town and growing up I never really went past the west side of the bigger city just outside of town. If I had to drive to the east side, I always expected to get lost. And, normally, did. And, driving downtown, forget it. First time I went downtown, I drove the wrong way on a one-way street.

So, back to getting lost yesterday… I was scheduled to attend a class for work: Why Women go to bathroom in groups, and what they talk about while they’re in there. This class was located on the campus I graduated from. I took classes there for 3 years. I had this. No way would I get lost… right?

It had been almost 10 years since I graduated college, but I could find one simple building. They provided a map with the paperwork. Check-in was at 8:00 AM, class start time was 8:30 AM.

Let’s just re-live this, shall we?

I pull into the campus at 7:50 AM, park in the lot by the baseball field, right where I think I should be, wait a couple minutes, then get out. Hmm, now I’m confused, which direction is the building? Maybe if I just keep walking I’ll see a building I remember.

Nope, shoot, nothing really seems familiar. Funny how you forget things when it’s been 10 years.

I check out the name of the first building I see, then I check out the map. Hmmm,  it’s not really close by the building where it shows the class is. Maybe if I keep walking. Or, maybe if I call Danielle, it’s getting closer to check-in, like two minutes till. I hate being late.

“Yeah, I think you’re in the wrong place.”

“I’ll call you back, I’ll just ask someone where I am.”

The first three people I stop tell me they have no idea where the building is I’m looking for. Finally, one guy knows, and I am, indeed, in the wrong place. At this point, I am five minutes from my car, and that’s at walking pace, so I start jogging. Ugh.

I got this. I think I know where to go, I mean a guy just told me exactly what to do. I slide into my car and take off. I’m stressed, I look at my clock, it’s after 8 AM. I’m late.

I pull into another lot and park. I immediately see a lady, she, of course, has no idea where the building is either. Geez, people! Don’t you go to school here?!

But, wait, there’s another girl, she smiles and loudly says, “I’m awesome at reading this map! But, I don’t really know where that building is. Um, shoot.” Okay, uh, thanks, I’ll just ask this guy here…

He smiles and says, “Do you know where the baseball field is?” Um… “The golf course?” Um… “The place you need to go is right between those two.”

What!? I didn’t do sports, nor watch them.

He instructs me to follow this road, yes, this one right here, stay on it, all the way around, then turn right.

Alright, I can do that.

I’m sure he sensing my tension. I thank him and run, yes, run, to my car. My jeans are falling down and my shoes are clearly not meant for running. But, I do it anyway. I look like an idiot, but I don’t care, I have to find this classroom before 8:30!

I almost start crying, jump in my car and start driving to my THIRD parking lot.

Finally, I see a familiar car, I think. I throw the car in park, barrel out and step into some awesome zero-degree inter-femoral spread speed walking (presentation of the pits, was at a minimum), right toward the first building I see. There it is, it’s the name of the building, just like the map showed. Oh, and there’s a sign! It’s pointing me in the direction of the class. I almost start crying again, this time out of relief. Surely I can’t get lost anymore.

Hm, this door is weird, I’ll just try it. I end up in the classroom and see four of my coworkers. My face is flushed from embarrassment, stress and, of course, the running. It’s 8:15 AM and I check-in, only to realize I entered the building the back way. Sheesh!

I hate getting lost. But, it’s a good thing I’m a woman and I’m not afraid to ask someone for directions.