Tuesday, February 14, 2012

forgive me sweet baby, but i always take the long way home

it took us six hours to take a two-hour route home last night. this was to robert's chagrin and my utter, utmost delight.

we did not take the highway. that was my one caveat. we took wandering back roads that meandered past neighborhoods and diners and little boys on bicycles after school. we stopped to take long winery tours and visit the mount olive pickle factory. we held hands across tables with checkered tablecloths and sipped warm coffee late into the afternoon.

it could have been a straight shot down interstate 40. just one right turn and hundreds of miles of straight.

but then we wouldn't have seen the four deer in the meadow. and we wouldn't have been reminded how pickles are made (i say reminded because we watch the same 10-minute video twice a year. you get a free jar of pickles each, people. need i say more?)

we wouldn't driven past my dad's old high school, and taken a picture in front of the sign (go southern wayne fighting saints!) or have met the tour guide at the winery, who wore flip flops in february and spoke in a define, practiced surfer boy accent. who suggested we try this type of wine, then this type, then just for good measure, this type. who snuck us extra crackers and showed us a picture of the oldest grape vine in the world.

yes, we would have made it home before sundown. and our weary, traveling faces would have hit the pillows of our own bed before midnight. but the day of traveling home is still a day of travel. and that means a day of experiences. of getting away from screens. of blasting the heat in an old sedan and cranking up some country jams from the early nineties (doug stone, anyone?)

because putting off tuesday and the workweek ahead is part of why we take these little getaways. to act for a second like vagabonds with no real responsibilities. and a true vagabond would never take the road most traveled.

15 comments:

Tiffany said...

Love this, Courtney! Yay for your long way home!

~Tiffany
http://tiffanyd22.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

this sounds like the perfect day. a free jar of pickles is worth a long drive

Amber said...

I wish I had your zest for life sometimes. I always feel so rushed during the week and would love to let go of everything and just take a long drive like that.

Mackenzie said...

each of your posts is like a lovely little scrapbook of images for me to flip through. so so so unbelievably lovely.

Kira said...

Those extra hours sound well worth it :)

Anna said...

With these attractions, taking the long way home would be pure joy (I really like that song by the way :)

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your sisters story with me. You have no idea how much that really made my day! I try to not worry about it, but somehow it just creeps up on me unconsciously. This is truly a lovely blog - I'm very flattered that someone with so many followers said hello on mine. Happy Valentine's Day!

Blondie's Journal said...

I like taking the scenic route, too! So does hubby. What is the hurry? Stop and smell the pickles if you want!

XO,
Jane

Suz and Allan said...

The scenic route is always the best way home! Happy Valentine's Day!

Confessions Of A City Girl said...

Amen! My life goal is to be a vagabond *looks off dreamily*

~Sherine
Check out my blog, comment, and follow if you like!
Confessions Of A City Girl

two birds said...

i love this post! it's so well written and you said it all so beautifully. i love that you took the long way home. people need to do that more often!

Dee Paulino said...

so adventurous, I love it!

Hannah {Culture Connoisseur} said...

Fun! Those are the special trips you'll be talking about for years and years. :)

erika said...

:) How sweet. The pickle thing makes me smile, and now I'm always going to see a jar of Mt. Olive pickles and think of you two!

Janette said...

Oh my gosh! Love taking the backroad.. But me and my practical self is always thinking, "AHHH! THE GAS PRICES!" Such a lovely time you described and I'd sit through anything to get my husband a jar of pickles! He loves them and they're growing on me!

Janette, the Jongleur

PS. Saw your V-DAY photo shoot! You are GOOORGEOUS! No, I'm not surprised..Just reconfirming my conviction is all. Purple looks fantastic on you!

Cara-Mia said...

Taking the long way is always better. Look at all you were able to do. :)

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