The Highway is Calling

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The Highway is calling.  The pull of the Highway is so great I think of just getting in a car and driving, not knowing which direction I will take. 

The draw is the beauty of the road.  It does not take much of a drive to get to the country, even in Manhattan.  One of the most beautiful rivers is the Hudson River. 

Take a drive north of New York City to the quaint towns along the Hudson River Valley. They are beautiful.  Google “Towns in the Hudson River Valley.” 

From Akron, Ohio, head south on 77, and you have farmland and woods in 45 minutes.  So, the draw of the road is an adventure and seeing something new I never noticed before or maybe a road I have not been down. So, keep traveling south, and you will Almost be in Heaven, West Virginia.

I am always grateful for the Freedom of the Highway.

Our Grandmothers

I always wondered what my grandmothers were thinking about in their day.  Life was tough. What were their dreams?  I think of each one and ask myself that question.

• What did she feel like she was missing out on? 
  • Or was she fulfilled? 
• Did she look at what she had and feel blessed? 

Women have never had it so good.  Our options are far greater today than our grandmothers.  There is a picture of one of my great paternal grandmothers who had many children.  The look on her face, I wish I knew what she was thinking.    

If no one tells you what you are missing in life, would you know? 

I recall the story of one great-great-grandmother who had many children.  I think it was my paternal great-grandfather’s mother. 

It was the story of a preacher who came to visit my grandmother to encourage her to go to church.  She had many, many children.  All little gifts from God… 

The preacher talked with her for a little while, and she wished he would leave.  When he finally did go, she reached into a cupboard for a little something to drink.  Shortly after she got herself a little sip, the preacher was knocking on the door again.  She put her drink back in the cupboard. The preacher said, “Miss Booker, Do you want to go to heaven?” and my grandmother said, “We’ll let me ask you, something preacher, will there be Chillun in heaven?”

The preacher said, “Well, yes, Miss Booker, there will be Chillun in Heaven,” to which she said, “Well then, I don’t want to go.” 

I love that story.  I wish I had recorded my aunt telling the story.  I am not sure who told her the story, but I love it.

I also wonder if my great-great-grandmother felt The Pull of the Road.

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The Back Story –

I can hear someone saying the image for this story is not the Highway.  So if you do not see images like the one in this story, perhaps you are on the wrong Highway. 

By the way, see the Contrails in the sky?  One of my other favorite sights, I love flying over those flyover states and reminiscing. 

My family knows if I have a personal trip scheduled and I plan to leave on Wednesday, I end up going on Monday or Tuesday at the latest.  The road calls. 

This morning I was thinking about movie references to Akron, Ohio.  Below is a montage of those references.  If you are easily offended, don’t watch it.  There is a clip from the movie European Vacation that will offend you.  Movie References to Akron, Ohio

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What to write about?  Writing Prompts

• Your favorite Highway
• Your favorite highway memories
• What pulls on your heart?
• Strong urge to go to _______________
• What are you daydreaming of?
• What songs take you to a place you want to go?

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Highway Songs

Eagles Ol’55 -great highway song

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Gordon Lightfoot – Carefree Highway – “Her name was Ann, and I’ll be damned if I can recall her face,” story of my life, hahaha

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Dickey Betts – Highway Call

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“Church is Not Going to Kill You”