Detours

So Casey and I were driving back from Durham on the Freeway almost to the I40 exit when I saw a detour sign for it. There were two trucks in front of me and even though I saw no construction I took the detour and followed them. Well, the trucks were evidently at their exit because I proceeded to lose them after the first 15 minutes. I realized after a while where the road was taking us. Back to Chapel Hill. I was going to turn around but I had already reached the point of no return. I was familiar with the road and during my grad school days had been lost on those back roads before. We drove by an old barbeque place (Allen & Sons) that I remembered fondly. The conversation went something like this- me-“That’s some of the best barbeque ever.” Casey-“Then why are we still driving?” Me-“Did you have lunch?” Casey-“No.” It was at that moment that I made a u-turn on a gravel driveway and headed back to barbeque goodness. It was just what we needed.

I’ve taken a lot of detours in my life lately. I am happy to report that my knee surgery went well. There was a tear and the doctor was able to repair it. The other good news was that he told my mom that my knee was in great shape. He didn’t believe that I was as heavy as I claimed to have once been. I go back next week for follow-up and hopefully for a little more clearance. I am back in the pool and thanks to Alex and Kathy and their creative workouts, I am getting in some cardio. I feel good. I’m walking around and moving without pain. At times I have to remind myself that I had the surgery and to take it easy. But my body is angry. It wants to move. Mentally, I am struggling. I am finding myself moody and emotional. I don’t have the release like I did. I’m working on it. But the surgery was a detour. I didn’t want to take it but I believe it’s going to make me a better athlete.

So Kathy loaned me a book to read while I recovered. I have only made it through a few chapters but something the author wrote stuck with me. The book is called The Shack by William P. Young. The quote, “I suppose that since most of our hurts come through relationships so will our healing.” I reread that line several times before I could move on. Detours. A year ago, I never expected to be where I am today. I never expected for the people to be in my world that currently get me through every day and I never expected those who I thought meant the world would be gone.

At times I am sad about those in my life who now are relegated to random texts or complete silence. Every once in a while I remember something that occurred and a wave of nostalgia hits me hard but then I take stock of the life I have. A good life. Like the author wrote most of my hurts and ghost stem from relationships and I have found through new and revisited ones healing. Detours.

If I had turn the car around and gotten back on the Durham Freeway, Casey and I would have missed some good barbeque, sweet tea and amazing hushpuppies. If I had ignored the pain in my knee and tried to work through it, I never would have healed. I might have done more damage and been taken completely out of the game. If I had wallowed in my pain and misery instead of picking up the pieces of my life and moving on, I never would have discovered the meaning of true friendships. I would still be sitting on my patio in my Mickey Mouse Pjs watching the world go by-no barbeque, Five Guys, Feeneys, Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings, triathlons, cookouts, or card games. I needed the detour to find life.

Life is full of detours and I am grateful for them. The back roads are often better then the freeways.