In an ironic sense, I was driving tonight after a long day thinking about America as a car culture.
There are so many things that are said (myself included) about our culture that are given a sneer. Take driving for instance. Americans are know for their affinity for cars and road trips. Kerouac being a good example of this. Gas and oil are wasted and people purchase new cars on a frighteningly frequent basis.
But what does driving do for us beyond the obvious answer of transportation.
It takes us new places inside ourselves as well. Case and point that I thought of this while driving...
I named my car Athena when I first got her. She's my first car and I've had her since I was seventeen. I knew that she would make me think like being in a car usually does and I knew that she would face some battles.
It's those long night drives that allow my mind to slow down and meander over things that may have slipped through the cracks in my brain during the lightning bolts of every day thoughts. Once I get out thoughts about the coffee maker, my shoes, scheduling, etc., I can fill my mind with long breaths. The thoughts trickle in, lilting like the walk of a happily intoxicated person.
Toooo the left.....tooooo the right.....Oh! A door!
Probably a bad analogy, but nonetheless effective.
Long drives also give, at least, me a chance to spend time with myself. Hours to discuss with myself questions I have or problems I'm facing. Of course, there are those drives that are so long and in the worst of weather where I spend ample time over-analyzing every mundane detail of some futile event. On most occasions, though, I am the calmest introspective company for myself.
The best roads are those that are not too far out in the country that I have to focus on not hitting a coyote or finding a road that probably has no sign, but roads that are low-lit and few stops. No distracting glares and no jostling stop and go of traffic.
In the worst of times, driving is always a good option. Breathing slow and deep, concentrating on the road...nothing matters right now but my feet, eyes and hands. Of all the traits of our culture, I'm least ashamed to enjoy driving.
There are so many things that are said (myself included) about our culture that are given a sneer. Take driving for instance. Americans are know for their affinity for cars and road trips. Kerouac being a good example of this. Gas and oil are wasted and people purchase new cars on a frighteningly frequent basis.
But what does driving do for us beyond the obvious answer of transportation.
It takes us new places inside ourselves as well. Case and point that I thought of this while driving...
I named my car Athena when I first got her. She's my first car and I've had her since I was seventeen. I knew that she would make me think like being in a car usually does and I knew that she would face some battles.
It's those long night drives that allow my mind to slow down and meander over things that may have slipped through the cracks in my brain during the lightning bolts of every day thoughts. Once I get out thoughts about the coffee maker, my shoes, scheduling, etc., I can fill my mind with long breaths. The thoughts trickle in, lilting like the walk of a happily intoxicated person.
Toooo the left.....tooooo the right.....Oh! A door!
Probably a bad analogy, but nonetheless effective.
Long drives also give, at least, me a chance to spend time with myself. Hours to discuss with myself questions I have or problems I'm facing. Of course, there are those drives that are so long and in the worst of weather where I spend ample time over-analyzing every mundane detail of some futile event. On most occasions, though, I am the calmest introspective company for myself.
The best roads are those that are not too far out in the country that I have to focus on not hitting a coyote or finding a road that probably has no sign, but roads that are low-lit and few stops. No distracting glares and no jostling stop and go of traffic.
In the worst of times, driving is always a good option. Breathing slow and deep, concentrating on the road...nothing matters right now but my feet, eyes and hands. Of all the traits of our culture, I'm least ashamed to enjoy driving.
