Good morning! I hope the world is being good to you and you’re being good to it.

Grab your coffee or beverage of choice and share a thought with me.

I love me a good road trip. As a kid, a long drive meant commandeering the back seat of the family minivan and hunkering down with my Game Boy, a book, and unnecessary snacks. Eventually, I would throw a portable CD player into the mix (with skip protection, obviously). Should the drive extend past my Game Boy batteries’ life, or into the deep dark of night that even my illuminated magnifying adapter couldn’t make playing feasible, then a nap wrapped in the soothing noise and vibration of the road was an immaculate option. I slept easily without ever thinking about my parents needing to stay awake or the vigilance required to remain safe on the road.

Road trips today are not the same, but I still generally look forward to them. While I am now the one responsible for the safety of the passengers, I look upon time spent behind the wheel as an opportunity to put the general rigors of the world on pause. The road holds us captive in our little motorized capsules as the gray expanse of pavement stretches to the horizon, but within our vehicles, the opportunity for connection, peace, and fun abounds.

Silly conversations with my wife and kids catch me up on what’s important in each of their worlds. Audiobooks, podcasts, or music present the opportunity to teleport to different worlds and head spaces. If nothing else, the drone of the road invites contemplative thought. These are all things I take for granted or de-prioritize during a normal day, so when I am forced to partake during a drive, I realize how much I miss those moments. It’s what keeps the long drive a treasured event, even when road weary eyes and legs yearn for the respite of home.

Oh, I also love buying way too much during gas stops so I can down pop, chips, and sugar like I just discovered it. It’s hard work driving – I deserve a treat, or two, or ten.

What are your road trip memories? Game Boy or Game Gear? Cassette or CD? Book or motion sickness?

Have a great day and enjoy that coffee!