four hours
in a car is all it takes to clear my mind. four hours of nothing to do but drive and drive down this endless asphalt ribbon. my hardest decision will be which music to listen to next. four hours of singing, loud, uninhibited singing, along with joni mitchell, bob dylan, cowboy junkies, counting crows, alison krauss. four hours of not caring what people passing me think as i belt out all my favorites, feet tapping, head bobbing, mouth wide.
four hours of trucks and cars and vans and jeeps and buses
and motorcycles, and one helicopter being pulled by a camper.
never saw that before. of watching for hawks and spotting two herons and counting crows as i sing a counting crows song and
then smiling to myself about that. of eating m&m’s and drinking
a coke, which I only ever do on long drives.
four hours not distracted by internet or television or telephones or anyone else’s voice. four hours of looking ahead, not behind, not up, not down, not at everything that needs to be done. four straight hours of straight hard thinking.
four hours of sky and horizon, trees and wire, whizzing by so fast you don’t see it. but it sits there, in your mind’s eye.
four hours of enjoying the ride.
four hours twice within 28.
eight hours in a car, with my thoughts and my music.
and none of those thoughts were of time.
July 12th, 2010 at 9:13 am
i love to drive too…..for all the reasons you just stated !
and the road being an “asphalt ribbon”…..swoon !
July 12th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Sounds perfect, especially when combined with coke and m&m’s. :0)
July 12th, 2010 at 10:39 am
truth: you are the most gifted blog writer i’ve found. your words are sunshine and medicine and tempered wisdom. training wheels spoke volumes to me. please write a book so i can buy it and crawl into it when i need solace and peace.
xo, graciel
July 12th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Only you could call a road “ASPHALT RIBBON ” I do that in the car too…dancing, singing, and yes people do stare but that’s ok, I just wave to them as they pass by 🙂
July 12th, 2010 at 11:54 am
sounds lovely to me. i love your music selection to. I’m addicted to Alison Krauss right now. hope you were going someplace wonderful. I enjoy reading your blog! You’re flying!
July 12th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
What a beautiful way to pass the time and find joy in the endless highway!!!
July 12th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I love driving. Love a good road trip, even if it is just four hours. Counting crows while listening to them? That’s serendipitous. And that helicopter? That’s just odd.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
i strongly agree with graciel. please do us all a favor and write a book.
July 12th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
I so get this.
(Again – gosh I love your style.)
July 13th, 2010 at 7:53 am
love your description “asphalt ribbon”! you make the 4 hours sound delish!
July 13th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Now i feel better about the 4 or 5 hours i have to drive thursday night. perfect timing.
xoxo
July 13th, 2010 at 11:28 am
enjoy!!! sounds like bliss.
and i am totally with gracie.
July 13th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
asphalt ribbon…one of my favorite phrases ever:-)
i love belting out tunes when i’m driving. i’m horrible at it and can’t carry a tune (tone deaf, anyone?) but i don’t care. there’s nothing like the open road and your favorite song…
July 14th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Hope you had a wonderful drive, full of safe adventure. 🙂
July 17th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Electricity is really just organized lightning.