dirt roads

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Thot ya'll might enjoy. An e-mail from a friend.

DIRT ROADS

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 that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to you teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home...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 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. And there were no drive by shootings.

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 taught patience.

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 road 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 ...always you got a new friend...

At the end of a Dirt Road.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), June 28, 2000

Answers

Your friend is clever and insightful, John. I well remember the end of the dirt road I grew up on, and have tried, however humbly, to instill a few of these values in my own kids. If only we had a few more dirt roads, and a few more of the families who lived on them!!

-- Tracy (trimmer@westzone.com), June 28, 2000.

there is a great country song called ill take the dirt road, i think sawyer brown does it which you probably would like.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), June 28, 2000.

Another benefit of dirt roads is that the people who live on them usually know one another, instead of being total strangers as so many neighbors are nowadays. And that in itself sure cuts the crime rate way down.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), June 28, 2000.

When I was growing up my parents had a farm on a dirt road that was miles in nowhere, and on the NY/PA border, in fact they owned land in both states. I remember the tranquality there and peace. What I did not care for at the time was living so far away from civilization and often I would fuss at my father about this. Well... when I got smarter than my dad at the ripe old age of 18 I married and moved to the city where all the action was. Or so I thought!:) I soon tired of the city, the traffic, noise, pollution and missed the country. My ex, and its part of the reason he is my ex, loved living in the city. I searched and searched for a farm in the country and finally found a beautiful solar house on 15 acres with a Russian woodstove and flushless toilet on a dirt road right out of the then popular Mother Earth News. Well he stuck his nose up at it. I was determined I would not live in the city and raise our sons there. I soon ended up meeting my now husband and we took over his father's farm until we moved to VA. We now live on a dirt road and I cannot tell you how much I enjoy it. I could use a little less mud and dust. The feeling I like the most is coming home from a hard day at work, turning onto the dirt road and driving to my paradise!

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), June 29, 2000.

I grew up on a dirt road. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Although we live in the country, we live on a paved road, but as soon as we can afford a new place, we will be moving to a dirt road!! I really love the seclusion. We have people "flying" up and down our road at all hours of the night, and on a dirt road, you don't have to worry about that as much. Plus, I can't stand that our house in sitting right on the road. Something I miss more than the dirt road is the long driveway!! :o)

-- Linda in GA (botkinhomeschool@yahoo.com), June 30, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ