As if hearing about my sister’s upcoming road trip wasn’t enough, today a good friend asked me if I wanted to take a road trip across the country - back to Seattle, no less. That’s something I have a hard time saying ‘no’ to. I had to though do not only to the fact that I have plans to be in Boston that weekend, but also because my lack of experience driving a manual car would probably leave us in a ditch in the middle of some fly-over state. Anyway, here are some of the best parts of road trips that I am very sorry to be missing out on.
1. Driving down the Grapevine in Bakersfield where it always seems to be hotter than Death Valley, windows down and music blasting, catching glimpses of your carefree self in the side mirror looking more relaxed and happy than you have been in awhile.
2. Filing out of the car at rest stops and seeing a similar parade of families stopping to pee, get some coffee or hot chocolate in the colder months, or just to let the young ones get some exercise.
3. Having to do away with your preset stations and tuning until something other than static comes through the speakers. More often than not on a hot Saturday in the middle of the country you wind up with some old man offering up a beat up car for sale and spelling out his phone number for all the world to hear and you finally understand how some people get themselves killed.
3. Having to do away with your preset stations and tuning until something other than static comes through the speakers. More often than not on a hot Saturday in the middle of the country you wind up with some old man offering up a beat up car for sale and spelling out his phone number for all the world to hear and you finally understand how some people get themselves killed.
4. Pulling up to the hotel at what felt like midnight and waiting in the car while Dad goes to check in, leaving the rest of us to collect our most precious belongings; being forced to play out a Sophie's Choice between a beanie baby and a doll that can pee itself.
5. Having every liberty to get the worst food imaginable at pit stops. As someone who comes from a family that makes a point to stop only at truck stops, the largest selection of packaged doughnuts was at my fingertips and I took full advantage.
6. Getting out of the car at said truck stop after breathing in the recycled coughs and farts of family members after being in an air conditioned minivan for the last five hours. Stretching, sifting through discarded art projects and junk food wrappers to find flip flops, then hopping out and letting muscles feel stretches they never thought would return to them. Breathing in the hot, dry air, and waddling toward the toilets with TVs and stall doors that lock.
7. The incredible pattern my parents Pavloved us into following: eat a meal, get back in the car, and fall asleep. Is it 2 in the afternoon? That's fine. Take a nap. Is it 8AM? Thats fine. Go back to bed. Are you the one driving? It's okay, the bumps will wake you. Bon voyage!!
(pic cred)
