Marissa Who?

Let me just start off by saying that I hate driving. Like, REALLY hate driving. Mostly because I don't trust other drivers. Everyone drives too fast. Rush, rush, rush! No one checks side mirrors, rear view mirrors. People are not to be trusted while driving! (in my opinion of course). Besides the fact that I don't trust other drivers, I kinda don't trust myself driving. I am a jumpy, thinks too much, doesn't think enough, no sense of direction kinda driver. So anyways....Here is what happened today on my latest driving endeavour:

I left the house to take my 8 year old to a birthday party. It was in another city, not far from ours, at a kids indoor play park. I had my husband program all the details into our trusty GPS named "Marissa". We arrived at our destination pretty much on time, no major incidents and no one (meaning ME) got lost. I was somewhat familiar with this area, so no big deal.

After saying goodbye and trying to give my daughter a kiss goodbye (she doesn't like to do the public goodbye kiss anymore), I got into the van and started on my way to do some errands while my daughter was partying it up.

My errands went well, no real hiccups with me losing my way. Marissa did her job well...up till I decided to take a little detour and meet up with some family a ways a way while waiting for my 8 year old to finish her party.

I feel like I need to take a really big deep breath before going on...YES, it was that stressful!!!

So, I reprogram Marissa to take me to my new location. No problems. I start driving and get stuck in some snarly traffic. This was no good. By the time I got on the highway, Marissa indicated to me that I was not going to have much time to make my pit stop before picking up my daughter. Change of plans. I told Marissa to take me back to the indoor party place....This is where Marissa and I ended our GPS friendship.

She told I had to exit off the hwy I was on, but oops, for some reason I missed the exit. I had to take the next exit after the huge bridge.

Marissa started directing me to take left turns, right turns, sharp turns, U turns, you name it. She wanted me to take rights, when no rights existed, U turns, when they were prohibited. Veer left, but not too far left. All this while dealing with the other drivers, whom I mentioned earlier, I don't trust.

I will give Marissa a slight break, there was a lot of construction detours going on, and I suppose she doesn't update herself on a daily basis (she really should, for jumpy drivers like me).

I was rattled with getting lost for all that time, freaking out that I would be lost forever and my 8 year old would never be picked up....Oh the crazy daydreams I have sometimes!! haha.

I really was freaking out that I wouldn't be there on time. I really was just getting more and more lost. But eventually, I found my way. I will tell you, I did it without Marissa's help. I was back on track, a little scattered, but I knew where I was going. About 4 blocks from the indoor party place I was beginning to calm down, and just as I sighed in relief, relief that my journey was almost over, a FREAKIN idiot ran out into the road. He was crossing this crazy 4 lane mini hwy and as far as I could tell, he was oblivious to any motor vehicle zooming past him at 80 clicks!!! Can you say heart attack ! I just about had one.

Finally I pulled into the parking lot. I was a tad bit early, but trust me, at this point I didn't mind sitting and waiting in the car, nope, not one bit.

Pick up was successful. Trip home was perfectly, perfect. Marissa was put away (I got tired of her bossing me around).

I learned a lesson today: Read the map before you go! And Marissa and myself are no longer friends.