Off The Road Again, On the Road Again

After Kerouac's On The Road was published in 1957, there seemed to be an increase in cross country trips. There's a large community of people that are about fourty or fifty years old now, that got in their car and just took off, working just long enough in a town to move on to the next. Now I don't particularly think that Kerouac's book is all that good and I'm not overlooking it's historical relevance or importance. Let me be clear... this is not a "Kerouac Rocks!" post.

I was sitting in church on Sunday and the pastor was relating a story about when he was traveling from one state to the next visiting friends and family and making just enough to eat and sleep in his car. I'm not sure how it related to his point because I glazed over thinking about this post.

Really, I just want to say that I think it's a worthwhile endeavour. I've never done it, and I don't plan on it but, if your thinking about it, I say do it. Don't plan on writing a hip book about your experience, and don't bring a copy of Kerouac's book with you. Just go and look up. Try to walk around with out looking at the sidewalk. We need to look up more as humans.

I suppose I got a little nostalgic about days that never belonged to me. I was thinking, "back in the good old days, people just took off and relied on the goodness of people." I don't know. Maybe it was the church hymns, or maybe it was that music the piano player plays when the pastor is praying for the congregation. I think it's the same song they use when the drug abusing female lead finally comes to grips with her addiction on Lifetime's made for TV movie. I just hope more people do it in the future (travel the country that is, not come to grips with their addiction on Lifetime). Maybe it will take a book like Kerouac's, or maybe I'm disillusioned, and more people are leaving home already to see the "stone cold gaze of Mt. Rushmore," or maybe it's just a big waste of time. But when I think of the time I waste studying monotony and equability, (studying might be a little generous) I think, pack your bags, and leave. If you want some helpful hints I'm sure The Brawny Chief Jason would be more than happy to help you. If you decide not to go across the country in search of a sense of purpose, don't fret. I'll probably erase this in three weeks anyway.