On The Road Again
Do you stay on the road like I do? I make Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” look like my theme song.
I love to drive, especially in rainy, snowy or windy weather. Having driven as much as 50 minutes one way to work for a number of years, I began taking my camera along to capture all the unusual things I’d see along the way.
Why, you ask?
I’ve seen the likes of a tornado touch down and come across a cornfield right at me, a dog and a fox in a standoff in the middle of a swampy road, a buzzard flying right at my windshield as I was going 55 miles an hour (no he did not veer away…he took my windshield wiper to Glory with him!), seven deer jumping out in front of me – all at the same time, 20 or more little pigs “playing” in the middle of the road, and a wild turkey sitting on top of a concrete drainage cover in the center of a small country pond.
That, alone, will make you take a camera when you travel.
Today I am living in the suburbs and am usually out the door by 7:30 or so. I’ve had the pleasure – for well over two years now – of driving less than three minutes to the office. Yes, I said three minutes. There are not many reasons to take a camera today as there were in years past. Three minutes is hardly time to put a seatbelt on and start the car.
However, it is not an uneventful drive by any means. By the time I get to the office I have shared my morning smile and wave with at least ten others…none of them animals…at least I don’t think they are. 🙂
I suspect you think I live in a friendly neighborhood with lots of people exercising, waiting at the school bus stop, walking the dog, etc. early in the morning. As much as I’d like to live in a place like that, it’s just not the case. Everyone is like me, rushing out to get to their appointed spot. I rarely see one person I could even smile at as I drive out of the immediate neighborhood.
You see, for the past two years I’ve have the pleasure of driving through a major road construction project each morning.
I live between two booming towns with a large lake right between them. The lake has a dam that was built years ago.
Over time, they said, the dam has weakened. It’s little comfort to know I live at the bottom of that dam. If a major earthquake should hit it was likely to sustain heavy damage and could, possibly, completely flood the area between here and town. Not a good thing to think about if you live that close.
Needless to say, when I heard the power company was building another dam to “back that one up,” I was pleased. I did not know it was part of a bigger project and that it would take years to complete.
I also never thought I would get to be a passing friend with a road construction crew during that time.
In the morning, whenever I catch their eye, I wave at the crew and smile. They are out there in some pretty intense weather – not to mention traffic. I’ve seen several of them almost get hit as they worked. The crew often starts work much earlier than I do and is still out there when I go home in the afternoon. I can tell you they are doing a good job.
It’s like watching little boys building with their Legos.
I’ve seen the workers’ unique characters develop over time. There is about every nationality represented you can think of on that crew. There are even women among their ranks.
Some of the crew has clothing that sets them apart from the rest. One of those workers always has his cowboy hat and boots on.
I particularly like looking at him.
He always seems to be driving the big rigs, just like he was early this morning. I thought about taking a picture of him with my camera but didn’t have the nerve to do it! I think that’s the country girl coming out in me.
If I have to be on the road that early in the morning, I like to be able to see something interesting. These construction workers and the work they are doing fits that bill.
They will be finished soon and I will be relegated back to seeing few people between home and work. I have to say I will miss them.
My wish for you today: That you appreciate the work crews that build and repair our roads. They put themselves out there all day in the elements to make our driving experiences more pleasant and safe. Thanks to them, we can be “on the road again” in comfort.
Happy and safe driving!
~Joellen