travel woes

 I went to my cousin's funeral in Woodburn this morning.  The service itself was very nice and it was a sad but good chance to reconnect with some family members I don't see often.  I was even pleasantly surprised when I was greeted like a long lost friend by one of the funeral directors.  He had been surprised yesterday when he saw my name on the flowers I sent, and was watching for me when I arrived.  He's a full time funeral director and part time play-write and I was in one of his plays before the pandemic shut everything down.  I played the church lady who accidentally got dragged off to Hell (but that's a different story).  The funeral was fine, as I said, but getting there was not half the fun.  I grew up in Woodburn, and while I don't get out that way very often, I do still remember the way.  At least I thought I did.  I took what I thought would be the most direct way, and it probably would have been, without the lengthy detour through New Haven (come on people, New Haven isn't that big) and a few wrong turns.  50 minutes later, I completed what should have been a half hour drive.  It's good that I left early.