The latest challenge

Today I was driving with a friend of mine up in Lowell. Lowell is only about 10 minutes from where I live now. On a map, it looks like an easy drive and for the most part, it is. Getting around in the town, like most towns here in New England however, can prove to be a challenge.

So my friend who has lived here in Massachusetts her whole life and says to me, "Oh, I'm so glad you have GPS because I don't think I could have found this place on my own!"

After her exclamation, I shoot a glance at her with a big grin on my face because I thought it was just me! She catches my look and we both end up in a fit of the giggles.

It's hard to describe driving in New England unless you've actually done it for more than a day or two. The roads twist and turn.  Sometimes they change names. They'll say "NORTH", but you'll really be going south or west or east or a combination of the four.  Other times, they will merge with another road which becomes an entirely new road until it forks and becomes two new roads. Some roads end entirely so you'll be driving along figuring "Oh, I'm on route so-and-so" only to find out that it ended some 3 miles back and you're going the wrong direction entirely because you took the wrong fork and are now headed towards New Hampshire.

Anyway, it's been 8 months since I came to New England and I'm still amazed and inspired by the beauty that surrounds me everyday. It's so green here and the people I've met and made friends with are simply amazing. Granted, getting around here is always proving to be a challenge. I'm glad I stayed though.  I'm more than happy that I stayed.....roads and all.