Never been there, done that

This column mentions flowers. This column isn't about flowers. It's about getting from Point A to Point B as planned -- with me behind the wheel. Flowers only play supporting roles in this column. I guarantee it.

Besides, what else are you going to read? Let's face it, folks, what Dr. Gott knows about acrylic nails can't be as interesting as what you'll read right here.

So, here goes.

I consider myself a decent driver. I don't get tickets. I don't crash into things (except in Scotland, where I swear, Constable Macdonald, she was on the wrong side of the road).

And I usually get where I'm going -- if I'm going where I've been before or have clear, easy-to-understand, foolproof, even-a-6-year-old-could-find-it instructions.

If I get lost or turned around ... well, it's not a pretty sight.

Last Saturday being Valentine's Day, my wife and I headed for the orchid show at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. We do this every year, not always on Valentine's Day, but sometime before the show ends in March.

But first we wanted to find someplace different for lunch. Because of my fear of finding places I've never been to before (see above), we tend to go to the same eating establishments over and over.

This time, my wife mentioned a restaurant we had enjoyed a few years ago. Did I remember it? she asked.

As any man will instantly recognize, this was a loaded question. She did not want to know if I recalled a pleasant eating experience. She wanted to know if I remembered how to get there.

For some reason, my gray cells were working, and I told my wife the restaurant was on Watson Road. Yes, I know where to exit for Watson Road. No, I don't know how far we go to get to the restaurant. But it's on the right side of the street.

At this point, I need to tell you that I am somewhat familiar with the city of St. Louis. But I find getting around in any big city is easiest if an interstate goes near my destination. I frequently drive miles out of the way -- in the wrong direction, even -- to get someplace by way of an interstate. My St. Louis friends and relatives laugh at me. They make fun of me. They express doubts about my state of mind.

Quite frankly, they're not me.

Recently, though, I've decided that advancing age is no excuse for my fear of city streets. On recent St. Louis trips, I have boldly gone where I've never gone before. As a result, my wife and I have discovered the stretch of Olive Boulevard lined with restaurants and food markets featuring Chinese, Japanese and Korean specialties. Who knew? Uh, everyone except us, apparently.

We found what we thought was the restaurant we were looking for Saturday. Turned out it wasn't. It was better.

Serendipity.

When we left the restaurant, I hesitated before turning back to I-270 to take the familiar and roundabout route to the botanical garden. Instead, I stayed on Watson Road and headed east. "Let's see what we find," I said confidently to my wife, silently hoping we would, eventually, find the botanical garden.

Guest what? We saw lots of interesting things. We turned into the botanical garden parking lot without getting lost once. And not only were the orchids magnificent, we found the old brick greenhouse filled with blooming camellias. More serendipity.

What's next? Ordering something on the menu I've never tasted before?

R. Joe Sullivan is the editor of the Southeast Missourian.