” See the U. S. A. in your Chevrolet — America is asking you to visit …”
The opening phrase of this post period song, which Dinah Shore sung in the 1950s, speaks to America. Families traveled to the road in the years following World War II in much the same manner as the country rose to the occasion stage: optimistic, active, and seeking opportunity.
Some things seem more American than the road journey, when companions, families, and people take to the thread of the bridge in pursuit of experience. And while it’s undoubtedly not a bad time to take a road trip, there are times when it seems more appropriate than a summer getaway to set the tone for sunlight, fun, and rest.
Exploring the State
Through an unlucky turn of death, I rediscovered the pleasure of the road trip. My mother’s heath deteriorated nearly three years earlier, making it impossible for her to continue driving. As such, I ended up inheriting her car — a Chevrolet, as fate would have it.
Some weeks after the surprise of this community health fear subsided, it dawned on me: I have a vehicle in my yard. I had to rely on public transportation after living in the capital for more than ten years. And while keeping a car was a financial luxury I could n’t afford when I first bought my house, paid off my mortgage, and received a free, well-maintained car, it meant I now had the means to use it to explore. And observe I have.
What started out as day-long excursions to nearby locations quickly turned into weekslong rides to far-flung locations. The Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, and the Kentucky Derby are just three of the major sporting events that represent true America that my vehicles has taken me to. In between the large spectacles, I’ve even found time to explore scenic highways and smaller towns, from Madison, Indiana, to Madison, Georgia.
A Big, Beautiful Country
During my day behind the wheel, my moves have given me some profound ideas. For one: Goodness me, this is a great state. While I’ve driven over 20, 000 yards in the past couple of years, nearly all of it for enjoyment, I’ve rarely left my personal time zone, and feeling like I could discover so much more up and down the East Coast.
I have recently lived abroad, so I am aware of why people want to travel overseas and examine the rest of the world. I want to go abroad more often on my own. I enjoy the moment, though, when I get to see some of my own land in people. ( Not to mention that getting in one’s car is far more convenient, and far cheaper, than jetting off to Rome or Paris. )
Although people can easily get used to it, the vehicle itself represents a glory of engineering and ingenuity. Consider this: I can get in a vehicle in Washington and drive to Indianapolis or Savannah before dusk. Even a decade ago, those adventures would have required several days, if not months, for our Founding Fathers.
American transportation has become so easy that we readily take it for granted, but we should n’t. Irrationally, electric cars may help us appreciate the dependability of our current modes of transportation because I could n’t possibly get through Virginia without trying to find a charging station.
And I can quickly find a place to eat and a roof over my head when I arrive at my intended target. Yes, roads fast foods has its drawbacks, health and then, we all may grow weary of greasy burger and fries after too much time on the road. However, the fact that entire industries are built to anticipate user needs, as Tom Bodett says in the popular Motel 6 business, “leave the light on for you” is a testament to capitalism’s ability to meet American requirements.
Discover Your Homeland
I wrote a tribute to soccer manager John Madden that used the following Madden offer from a 1990 Sports Illustrated status shortly before I started my travels:
What I’ve learned traveling about is this: Persons are great. You go to a large city, and you hear the world is going to hell, but it’s not real. Small parts of it are, the whole is n’t. Hello, all we need to do is stretched out a little bit because there is a lot of room. You get out there, and it makes you feel better about America. The factor works.
My travels have echoed those of Madden’s expeditions in his famous vehicle. Most people are helpful, polite, and welcoming. They have n’t bothered to tell me that they are obsessed with politics like most people in Washington are, at least they are n’t.
After a treatment from my latest episode of procedure, I’m heading back on the road this summer. I want to avoid Washington and the sad political season by spending as much time as possible there. I ask that you travel with me on the road to discover our great nation:
” Create a date immediately to see the U. S. A., and see it in your Chevrolet”!
