The two wise men of backwoods county, USA

    

    There, there's that same huge oak tree, again. Driving down unfamiliar back roads searching for an unfamiliar destination, I am lost. Twenty minutes later I spy a small patch of civilization in the shape of a twentieth-century general store.  I park next to the old weathered wood sided building. I feel the weathered faces staring down upon me as I search for the scrap of paper with the address I am headed to. The two old men sitting in older wooden chairs don't smile, don't speak just stare. I put on a smile and say "Morning" No reply, just a nod and more intense staring. I explain that I am lost and ask for a little local help. The gentleman on my left, wipes his brow with his red and white printed bandana and speaks. "You can't get there from here" the gentleman on my right, dressed in faded denim overalls nods in agreement. As I try to make sense of his reply, I notice one of them is shaking their head up and down and the other is shaking his left to right. "Excuse me" The elderly farmer restates his answer. " I said, you can't get there from here. You gots to start from somewheres else." His companion still nodding his head up and down in agreement. I am lost for words but before I can ask for clarification they both crack up laughing.

Funny but true story.

Years later, those words echoed in my mind as I pondered my life's meaning and where I had been and where I was headed. "You can't get there from here" I spoke out loud. No, I just can't get to where I want to be from where I am. I spent forty years trying to be what everyone wanted me to be.

All I ever wanted to be was happy.

Sometimes you just have to start from somewhere else to get where you want to be.