Following Directions

Being a teacher, I often lecture my kids on following directions. I'll tell them things like, "Following the directions can mean the difference between passing and failing," and "If you don't follow the directions, how do you even know if you're on the right track?"

This weekend, I visited the wonderful world of Kansas City. It was all very wonderful (what little I saw of it), but I got to see portions that I rarely do. You see, I actually visit K.C. rather often, as my sister and her family live out there. I've been there enough to be a bit familiar with the area, but not enough to know my way without any directions. Wherein lies the problem. The problem? Well, my sister just moved to a more cost effective housing arrangement about five or so minutes from where she lives now. I was planning on going to the new place, but found out midway through the trip that she wanted me to pick up some things at the old one first.

Only, I didn't have directions to the old place.

I only had directions to the new one.

No problem, I think as I continue to drive. My sister (Clone 2) and my mom are in the car with me. They've both been to the old house before. If I just call my K.C. sister and have her direct me then everything will be fine. Only, I didn't account for signs that lie. LIE.

Well, sort of. There was this sign that said 70-W. Only it wasn't. It was an alternate route. One that we didn't want to take, but I was honoring and obeying my mom. So I did and suddenly found myself in brand new territory.

In the middle of downtown Kansas City and by downtown I don't mean the posh, respectable, glitzy type of downtown. No. I mean the dingy, scary, poverty-ridden section of downtown.

Don't panic! No hitchhiker's guide for me, but I did have my mom. Right? Right. And my brother-in-law on the phone, right? Right. Only too bad the two of them didn't always agree. And when they did, I didn't always agree with them.

B-I-L (on phone): Stop for a minute. Let me try to figure out where you are.

Mom: Stop for a minute.

Me: Here?!?!? Are you crazy!? Out of all of the places that we could have stopped the car, this is not the one I'd have picked.

Mom: Well. No. Not here. You're right.

Me: So where?

Mom: Well . . . just keep driving. We'll figure it out.

Which we eventually did. But not before I got to see a whole new side to Kansas City.