What I Found Important

Just got back from a quick road trip with my wife. The place was not important, the purpose was not important. At least not for the purposes of this post. What was important was breakfast. 3 days on the road, 9 meals, and 6 of them were breakfast. Yesterday was an all breakfast day, the beauty of the American road trip is the inalienable right to eat breakfast all day long, with nobody giving you grief for doing it (my wife is great!). I had 4 meals on the road, all of them breakfast (my wife eats a more normal diet, trust me), all of them courtesy of the fine folks at Cracker Barrel, which has become our road meal of choice. They all look the same (very pleasant), the menu is the same (very consistent) and has lots of options, the best of which is all day breakfast availability. They always seem to be open when we are traveling and hungry, which is most of the time (hungry, not traveling). And the wait staff wear aprons with 1 to 4 stars on them, giving the meal a military feel (always good to feel safe on the road), you feel quite special when a 4 star comes up to you.

However, one sweet and sour note. We stopped for a drink and a rest break at a Burger King (drinks only, no meal) and I got served and paid for a senior coffee (that's what they call it, and I didn't realize it until I had paid and left and puzzled at the low cost of two drinks. The slowness of uptake might have been part of the reason for the sale at senior prices. Who knows?). Ah, to be humbled with a simple cup of coffee. But I am going to get old anyway, might as well start scoring one of the senior perks (no pun intended) on the road, reduced price coffee to keep us old folks awake and between the white lines. I guess I had it their way this time.

But lots of breakfast on a 3 day traveling holiday weekend. I tip my hat to the American breakfast on the road, a truly great meal.

I'm Ready For The Road

I'm ready to hit the road again. I am not going anywhere, I am in the beginning weeks of a new semester at school, but I am ready to go. I am enjoying school but there is something to the freedom of the open road that appeals.

That would be me getting back into the car after a stop for a venti cup of coffee at Starbucks, ready to roll again. Even a semi-pointless drive to nowhere particular would be fun. Just me and my bride. (I would even let her be Elwood and drive).

How does this fit into any plans for seminary or ministry? It doesn't. A little down time is good, ask anyone.

Sometimes you just need a wide open two-lane highway and some good blues music to clear out the cobwebs. The road behind you sometimes makes you fitter for the battle ahead.

Back to the next paper and/or reading assignment before I head off to classes tomorrow.

Sigh.

Going Deep Vs. Going Wide

I do not travel all that much, but I recently completed a road trip to Branson, MO. I like road trips, I do prefer them to air travel as I have mentioned before. But as in any thing else there are trade offs.

Air travel lets you go wide. For me, either coast in the US in a little over 3 hours tops. Around the world in a couple of days. Go anywhere you want, unless people with guns will shoot at you if you try to land in their country. Barring that minor inconvenience, the world is yours. But you miss so much that is going on between your starting point and destination. Not much interaction with anyone at 30,000 feet other than your fellow plane mates. And the seats are cramped for a six plus footer like myself. Much more legroom in my car. But you can see cultures and countries different from where you live. (After six years, the novelty of the cultural shift from NY to Texas has worn off)

Road trips let you go deep. Stop when and where you want (OK not in the middle lane of a three lane highway). Check out things that interest you. But it takes time to do it. And things like water barriers or really big holes in the ground tend to slow you down quite a bit. But you can stop at a presidential library and spend the afternoon if you want. You cannot do that on a plane without a parachute and a way to evade the federal marshals who will be looking for you once you reach the ground. Pacific island getaways and European jaunts tend not to be feasible with an AAA itinerary. But there are no security gates, just toll gates to pass through. And
the TSA folks do not raise the bar if you throw some change at them.

There are probably personality quirks, or deep seated fears or phobias that would drive someone (or fly them) towards one choice over the other. Some nationalistic stirring or pride factor possibly. Someone should do a study.


So I like the road more than the air. But I am a little conflicted by that. What does that say about me? I dunno, but it says something. Someone really needs to look into this.

On the Road

Today we drive down to Virginia for more family visiting and to spend our Thanksgiving holiday before heading back to Texas. We like road trips and look forward to taking them. This one will be relatively short-250 miles-but it gives us a chance to spend some time together without the usual distractions of our daily life.

I think that is why I like them so much. That, and the fact that air travel seems to get less pleasant every time I do it. It probably is not the experience itself as much as it is that my tolerance level decreases in direct proportion to my aging. Another thing to look forward to.

I like visiting family, but I do miss my home. I guess you cannot have it both ways. The one thing that surprises me is that as much as i enjoy my classes at seminary, I really am enjoying the break. I hope the transition back to finish the semester is not too difficult. Makes me wonder how I will deal with going back to the spring semester after a 5 week break. Another issue for another day.

The one thing I am pleased with is that I find the time alone with the Lord that I feel I need daily. I always wonder whether I will be in the Word enough when I am traveling, but God does make sure I stay in touch. I am thankful for that.

I think it is so easy to get distracted when out of your regular routine. I am glad he does not get as easily distracted as I do. That would make life a lot more difficult if He did.