For decades, I have believed that I was impossibly thick when it came to understanding directions. Actually, I do have trouble with directional concepts such as left/right, north/south, and east/west.
This problem was underscored for me when I married into a family in which every member spoke in directional terms. For years, my husband would ask me to “mow the north yard,” but never made a comment about the fact that I was actually mowing the east yard. I had to find this out in an embarrassing manner.
I mean, if he had said, “mow the yard with the cedar tree” or “mow the yard next to the road,” I would have understood completely. But alas, I didn’t get it.
His mom would frequently tell me to go get something in another room. My favorite was “please go get Aunt Mandy’s bowl from the dining room.” When I inquired where it was, mom would say “in the southeast corner.” That narrowed the field down to four corners, but in a room that had glass bowls all over the place. Every corner had a shelving unit, tea cart, or table with at least one bowl, and often several.
Again, not helpful to this directionally-challenged woman.
Then this year, we had an interaction that made me question if this problem was all mine. My hubby and I were moving a chair – a very large, heavy chair – from the family room into the dining room. This was due to some renovation work that we had going on (which is a story for another day). To get the chair to the desired location, we had to move it through a door way to the hall, through the slightly narrower entry way to the kitchen (which was next to built-in open shelves holding glass bowls), and down three stairs through another narrow doorway.
We were doing fairly well with this through the first doorway. Then we came to the kitchen entry, next to the shelves. We had to tip the chair up and move it kind of diagonally through the area to allow for the base to get through.
Remember, this chair was pretty heavy. So I was doing my best to lift and turn it at the same time, but apparently not efficiently enough. My dearest began to say to me, sort of sternly I might add, “bend around, bend around.” This chair didn’t “bend” in any manner.
Secondly, he kept saying “bend” to me, when what he really meant was “tilt.” Or at least that’s why I would have said. In any event, we began laughing so hard we nearly dropped the chair. We finally got it through that narrow spot and down the stairs and into the dining room.
Last night, however, the clincher happened. Hubby drove to town after dark and noticed that one of the candles in our front window needed a new light bulb. So he called me and said, “Could you replace it? It’s on the right as you come into the living room.”
There is no window on the right as you come into the living room. You come in through the front door and on the right is a desk and a wardrobe.
Then he said, “It’s the one near the piano.” Oh, well, that’s on the left. If you go into the living room (from the hall), it’s on the right.
He could have just said “by the piano” to begin with, but no! He had to give “directions.” My contention is that this instruction problem is not all me.
We can battle that out when the renovation is over, and we have to move that big chair back to the family room.
be very carful when you return that item – you must ‘bend” it back the opposite of how you got it through the first time = add that can be a bit of a hassle in itself – remember, you will be slightly older than the last move!! better safe than sorry – call for help – his name is Kenton!!!
He probably has that direction thing down by now!!
Hey, Susie, look in the northwest skies at 7:56 this evening to see the International Space Station!
Susie, to tell you the truth, I never understood maps at all until after I was married and we purchased a world globe. The only thing I remembered from school was Italy was shaped like a boot and Florida looked like a long nose to me. I was born down in a valley surrounded by hills with tall trees. Never, ever saw the sunrise or sunset there. Now I know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
When we use to travel quite a bit, if the sun was overhead, I had no idea which direction we were going. Of course, now the highways have signs that show you. But you put me in a big building, such as hospitals with several floors, I have no idea how to get out of the place. Even a restaurant like Texas Roadhouse with the restrooms in the back of the building. I don’t care if I tell myself three times, “Turn left when you come out of here!” Doesn’t matter. I’m lost! It’s embarrassing to wander around several tables, looking for your own family!
It was bad this year when I got lost at the Delaware County fair. Well, I wasn’t actually lost. I just couldn’t find my husband. We were at the harness races. If you haven’t been there, it’s called The Little Brown Jug in Delaware, Ohio. They have a HUGE grandstand. Of course, we can’t sit in the elite chairs, because the “upper echelon” pay dearly to reserve those seats! So we’re up several rows behind them. Now with 20 races, I know I’m going to be visiting that restroom downstairs at least three times. I’ve used landmarks all my life. So I remembered the aisle we’re in is where the trash barrel is setting. That will work! But the last time I had to visit the ladies room, I decided to come up a different set of stairs much nearer our seats because I’ve watched others doing it. Not for me! I came up and didn’t see the barrel. This couple must have noticed me wandering around and asked if I was lost. I said, “No, but my husband is.”
Think, Betty! I said to myself. He’s wearing the Charlie May shirt! It’s bright orange! I looked one aisle down. “See, there he is!” I said pointing. I don’t hear well, but I think they were chuckling as I left.
When I finally got back to my seat, my husband asked sternly, “Where have you been?!!!” I smiled at him and said, “Be honest, you moved, didn’t you?”
Not to worry, Susie. We’re not “impossibly thick”, we’re directionally challenged. We’re special!
I guess I never thought about why I too am so directionally challenged. Hmm? Perhaps it has been passed down? ; ) God says all things work together for the good. We as humans like being helpful, especially if it is a chance to share our wisdom. I have made many folks day asking how to get here or there. They stand up proud and share their wealth of knowledge. Then I let them know what a God-send they were to my day. Thus, both sides are blessed. If it is a location of any kind I can get lost. People jokingly say, I could get lost in my own home if I’m not careful. Well, turn out the lights and I am certain I should be able to get through a doorway in our home which is covered in solid drywall. I can drop off one of our kids in a subdivision that I just drove into seconds before and drive around for many minutes trying to find my way out. Trust me there is not enough time in anyone’s day to hear the directionally-challenged stories I could tell. Yet, as God would have it, He brought me a mate who is more directionally wise than anyone I know. He will joyously linger over a map as if it is a best selling novel. I’m pretty sure he could sniff a place out. He once had only a closeup picture a friend of ours had sent. He put together a few ridiculous clues, a park bench being one of them, and was able to locate where they had parked their motor home for the winter!
Nevertheless, God doesn’t make mistakes. We are all weak in ways that bless others and strong in ways that bless others. If bend meant the same to you as it did Hubby you would have missed out on priceless, life-giving laughter and we would have as well. : )
great comments from Bets and Becky – nice to have such good folks share their stories and lives with us all – always a treat to read the comments – keep it up!
from a ways off but CSN be found directionally, most times!!
And you are a treat to us, John!!!