For an avowed avioniphile or aerophile (definitions differ), the airplane is more than a modern marvel - the dynamic lift of several tons of metal, plastic, people, luggage and airplane-food into the stratosphere to go thousands of miles is sheer engineering prowess. The airplane has made the world smaller and more accessible. I've loved to fly since I was a kid and the excitement hasn't waned even a bit. In fact, I love it even more now that I can summon a plane with the mere flick of a credit card.
But: coronavirus.
Suddenly, the idea of cramming myself into a metal tube with a hundred other souls, coughing, breathing, infecting, has got me squeamish.
Enter the husband who loves to drive, a reliable vehicle, and a destination bearing our only grandson. ROAD TRIP!
I made the prerequisite egg salad sandwiches the night before, and packed enough food, snacks and drinks, while hubby laid out the route.
For days before the trip, I began psyching myself for the journey, trying not to think of destinations but points along the way. My family took many road trips when I was a kid. These involved station wagons, picnic lunches and car games. We played 'peace sign', 'trucker horn', and sang 99 versions of '99 bottles of beer on the wall'.
In those days, most trips were 'road trips' - we didn't drive 80 mph so it just took longer to get places. We also didn't have the myriad of fast food outlets. We had Mickey D's and maybe Kentucky Fried and even those were fancy treats. My mom made sandwiches, and being Sri Lankan meant we probably made tea when we took rest stops for lunch.
But we kids had fun! There was the promise of some kind of treat or snack at gas stops, we were glad to be anywhere away from home and boredom, and somehow my parents were a little less strict and more permissive when we were out. We loved it!
Today, though, our schedules are so busy that taking the time for a road trip is the most difficult decision. Not: where will we stay (Airbnb), or where will we get food (endless options on Yelp), or how do we keep from getting lost (Google maps). So many worries alleviated and yet we can't spare a couple days of driving across this glorious, complicated, expansive country.
Until now.
So, we're 'rolling me down the highway, moving ahead so life don't pass me by', listening to music, watching the treeline, ducking 18-wheelers, pit stopping, and scouting license plates and interesting road signs.
ARE WE THERE YET?
