Despite ominous skies, we thought a trip to a corn maze and pumpkin farm we hadn’t yet visited would be fun.  So the wee one, significant one, and significant mom and I all piled into the SUV and went over the river (but not through the woods) to Rutledge Farms.

Possibly the first piece of evidence to my directional abilities was my misreading of the map we had; we found ourselves nearer our standard Christmas tree farm than any corn maze.

Back on track, we arrived at Rutledge Farm.  I chose to attempt the maze despite my directional impairment, though the significant side of the family â€" all three of them â€" opted out of the fun, instead choosing to hunt the perfect pumpkin.

I should have brought pebbles, or breadcrumbs, or a guide: I found myself bewildered in the first four minutes, and deciding to get back to the entrance and concede defeat.

But to get to the entrance, I’d have to find it.  I found, instead, a bridge, which showed me I was closer to the back of the maze than the front.  A map I found confirmed that I was, indeed, the furthest distance between the entries.

I heard voices, I saw no bodies.  The skies grew more ominous, and I started freaking out.
Running, not heeding logic (because, after all, “logic” was what got me to the point of no return to begin) I finally got to the exit, and decided that â€"reallyâ€"I am not a maze person.

Finally meeting up with the fam at the pumpkin patch, I found more fun slogging through deep puddles with the kid (which was, it turned out, her favorite activity of the day) just as the skies finally opened up.

Still, a fun, autumnal day. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler