It’s the beginning of summer, and to me, that means the denizens of the Pacific Northwest will cram 9 months of listlessness into 3 months time. One of the ways I usually cure that listlessness is to hit the open road for a road trip! The Great American Road Trip!
That’s right, the Great American Road Trip.
Most of us in Generation X, and some Generation Y, are accustomed to driving to our vacations aka holidays because it was cost prohibited to travel by flight. I’ve visited the Mt. Rushmore Monument to Disneyland to the Four Corners area by way of cars on a great american road trip. There’s plenty of stories of road trips, playlists of music to be played on the radios which were inspired by the driving experience, and memories upon memories of the wild things that happened out there.
My most recent great american road trip to Sedro Woolley reminded me of my fondest experience, and it didn’t take place on the highways and bi-ways of the United States. It didn’t happen during summer, either. In fact, it took place 8 years ago, in the fall, through the country of the Philippines.
You see, my father proposed to his wife, and requested his best friend (happens to be my uncle too), and myself to be his best men in the wedding ceremony in the Philippines. Well, it was early September 2008. I was in the closing days of finalizing my divorce with my wife. As you can imagine, I was in a dark place, one of which didn’t like celebrating love, commitment, let alone weddings and marriages.
However, it’s my Dad. To me, family first, so I stepped up and figured it out.
I’m still not quite sure why the return plans included a road trip in a Toyota Avanza from Tagbilaran City to the Manila International Airport. My Dad and step-mother loaded up my uncle’s bags and mine, too, for the long drive north. The description sounded like the start of a bad joke: Three Americans and Filipina jump into in a car …
I digress.
Without further delay, we zoomed outta Tagbilaran with only a thumbnail sketch of a plan for places to stay, and eat, to fuel up, and more. Between my Dad, uncle and yours truly, we rotated driving duties. My step-mother doesn’t know how to drive so it was up to the boys. We would literally drive as far as our energy level and fuel would allow. Once we rolled into a village, town, or city, we would find lodging for the night, and then food.
For some strange reason we gravitated to International Fast Food Chain of Jollibee. I think mostly it was the only food place open by the time we decided to stop. In order to wind down, we would find a bar or watering hole for drinks, and karaoke.
One the first night, we found a literal hole-in-the-wall place to drink San Miguel beer and karaoke. My step-mother had not heard me karaoke up until this night. For some reason I wanted to sing my heart to soothe it from the pain it was soaked in.
My first song was Daughtry’s “Over You”. Whether I did or didn’t, I felt like I killed it. I put so much conviction into it because I was performing for a sold-out crowd of thousands. After a few more beers, and few more songs, we all crashed out.
I slept better that night for the first time in months.
We continued our perilous road trip north on paved roads, dirt roads, muddy hillside where goats were walking faster than the Avanza was moving, across massive bridges, every imaginable topographical terrain, and encountered every type of weather scenario. We even took vehicle ferries from island to island!
Each day was the same: drive all-day long, then find a place to sleep, hit up Jollibee, and then drinks and karaoke to cap off the night.
Once we rolled into Manila, my heart saddened again. It was the beginning of the end. The fun times, the bonding with family, the driving experience, and the memories were almost done.
Then I had an epiphany. Road trips are more about the journey than the destination. Just like life.
So tell me about your road trip experience(s)! Remember, you can’t spell smiles without miles.
Until next week, be good like you should, and if you can’t be good, be good at what you do!
Mic drop bOoM
‘los