“Sometimes it takes a wrong turn to get you to the right place.”
― Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass

Yesterday, I got lost.

For several hours I stood, map in hand, trying to figure out where the fuck I was.

Then, I relaxed and thought, well, I will figure it out eventually.

I stopped for a cafe con leche and a sandwich, hit the restroom, and restored, made my way back onto the street. In a few more blocks, I found the tall trees signaling the entryway to Las Ramblas. Once there, I did the people watching and window shopping I’d expected to do.

I spoke a little Spanish (very little) to order my drink and pay for it.

I listened to the swirl of conversation around me, understanding little to none of it.

And I got quiet and allowed the wonder of everything around me to sink in.

I am OK, I thought. I am OK.

It’s been a long time since I allowed myself to be lost.

It’s been a long time since I have gone out into a foreign city in a strange land and walked the streets, soaking up the cacophony of sights and sounds and smells.

In La Boqueria Mercat, colors assaulted me. I smelled jambon and crusty bread and chocolate and coffee. A crush of tourists chattered all around me.

We were a great flock of pigeons – descending on the displays of fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate, the warm cashews and pine nuts, the cups full of a rainbow of different colored olives. Pungent cheese and wine. Beautiful, colorful vegetables.

Back on the street: flower vendors. Tiny cactus and succulents. Ficus trees. Potted geraniums and sunflowers.

And everywhere people pulling suitcases and walking small dogs and sitting and watching the world go by.

“The Truth is, we all get lost as we try to find our way. Perhaps the key is to stop, take a look around and enjoy the scenery as we go.”
― JaTawny Muckelvene Chatmon, Getting Lost

It’s easy to get tripped up and fall into fear and worry. It’s easy to think you’ve gotten yourself into a pickle, when, in fact, you’ve just fallen into Wonderland and you need to get your bearings.

Yesterday I got lost.

And it was good.

***

All Photos in this piece by Shavawn M. Berry, All Rights Reserved

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© 2017  Shavawn M. Berry All rights reserved

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