Written by Paul Harvey
Photos borrowed from the Internet
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 who live at the ends of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride, and that it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes.
But it's worth it, if at the end is home ... and 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 five barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun.
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 and bust your windshield with rocks.
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, but always, you got a new friend ... at the end of a Dirt Road!
5 comments:
What a fun 'look back'. I never lived down a dirt road, but I had cousins in NC who did. I still remember walking those roads, and kicking up that dirt. And how the clouds of dust would rise and fall when a car came down the road!
How true, our farm house set at the end of a dirt road...sweet memories flow.
I loved this post. I Grandparents lived on a dirt road, so I can identify with all the you so expertly detailed. That dirt road with a wooden bridge going over the creek was a fascination to us - the grandchildren.
Mother was not fond of the dirt road, which with enough rain became muddy and impassable. At the age of 74, I am not sure she has totally gotten over the embarrassment of arriving to the intown school on a tractor:-)
Ahhh, for simplier times. Love this post!
Fun time looking back! Thanks, Janie...
XO,
Sheila :-)
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