After we had breakfast and got dressed, I decided we needed a change of scenery. We've had a really unusual winter so far - the weather has been so mild and fantastic. I didn't know what we were going to do, but we just needed to get out. By the time we all got dressed and ready it was close to lunchtime. We went through the drive-thru of Chik Fil A and I pulled over into a parking lot to get everyone situated. They both hold their boxes of nuggets and they LOVE to listen to their music while we just drive.
My grandfather taught me the value of a good drive. We actually spent a LOT of time driving when my family would visit Fayetteville growing up. We would listen to our favorite music (Easy Listening), talk, and explore neighborhoods. Poppy taught me to appreciate driving a little slower and just looking around. I remember one time, like it was yesterday, when we were driving on a road that had trees on either side, overlapping above the road. Poppy said, "Look how the sun comes through the trees and leaves such pretty shadows on the road when you drive." I'll never forget that, because it represents a deeper principle: appreciate small things. Now every time I see a road like that, I think of him and I smile at how important "drives" are now to me.
So about once a week, that's what I do with Evy and Liam. I put their music on (with the volume balance turned to the back of the car) while they eat their lunch, and I turn some Easy Listening music on my iPhone just to where I can hear it. I always have the same route around town, but then I always try to turn onto several streets I've never been down. I drive by the original Lynwood (our old building) which is where I have a lot of memories from our early days in our town (back when my family lived here the first time). Then I drive by my old elementary school. Today the kids were playing on the playground, the same one I played on, and I was just overwhelmed with memories! I saw a few little girls playing by the tree where I played and I felt like I was just there yesterday. I usually drive the streets where my childhood friends lived, because I have a lot of happy memories. Some streets are just special for no reason, like Sherwood, Nottingham and Allendale. That's because when Poppy would visit us growing up, and he and I were on one of our drives, we drove on those streets and he said "You know these streets are named for places in England and the Robin Hood story. Allendale was probably named for the character Allen-a-dale." :) And I ALWAYS drive by my old house. Talk about memories....I have millions. One of these days I'm going to get up the nerve to ask the owners if I can just step inside to see it again.
Evy and Liam are happy as clams when we drive. I try to point out the little things - "Look at how that tree shades that house. Isn't it pretty?" Just things like that. I want them to appreciate early the value of a good drive. It happened to be beautiful weather (the most perfect we've had), and we stopped by the park on the way home. Evy and Liam had the BEST time, and they started doing the slide by themselves!
This day made me smile. :)
