Dirt Roads

I received this writing from a friend today and loved it so much that I wanted to share it with you. You may click on the link to see the original. Paul Harvey has a way of expressing life that I've always enjoyed. My husband and I have always enjoyed the "back roads". We will take them most of the time, unless we are in a big hurry to get someplace, or there's not any "back roads" to take. :) He will study the map for weeks before going on a vacation so that we can take the "best route" to wherever we may be going. You must understand, that the "best route" to us are "the back roads of America". They may not be the easiest, but they are often the most beautiful! There have been times when we took off on "dirt roads" just to see what was "off the beaten path".

"Dirt Roads"

What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved.

There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.

People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along.
There was less crime in our streets before they were paved.

Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun.
And there were no drive by shootings.
Our values were better when our roads were worse!

People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks.
Dirt Roads taught patience.

Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk.
For your mail, you walked to the mail box.

What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody.
At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap.

Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole.
At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.

At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out.
Usually you got a dollar...always you got a new friend...at the end of a Dirt Road!

~by Paul Harvey~

"Long, winding road keep on leading........someday this road will turn to gold."

The two pictures I posted were taken on a trip we made to California one year. We had taken our time one day just "meandering" and took "Dirt Roads" and we had a wonderful time!

You know, in life we sometimes get to going so fast down the smooth, paved roads that we forget there is beauty to be seen, if we would "stop and take the time to smell the roses". Don't forget there are "precious memories" to be made with your family and friends. Let's get out of the "fast lane", and enjoy spending time with those we love.

Debbie, at "The Alabaster Box" wrote a wonderful post about "The Long Winding Road". She brings out the importance to "keep traveling".