Friday, October 14, 2005

The back way home

I went to town today (what was I thinking? Friday afternoon and Apple Festival weekend). Lots of folks out today, a beautiful clear day, can't blame them for coming to our little mountain town.

I had lunch with an old friend. We caught up on all the news with our families and jobs, the things that have changed and the things that never will. Great to see Sherry again!

I came home the back way! A favorite drive of mine from town to here is by way of a quiet road through the country, passing farms and churches and cemeteries. I have missed coming home this way, as a year ago the road was washed away by flood. 'The new bridge is open and ready for traffic' the newspaper said, so I checked it out.

Lots of houses along this road, you can see the porches with rockers and swings, the remnants of a summer garden, the old cars in the yard, funny mailboxes. It seems that the concept of 'gated community' has not reached this road yet, like so many other nearby areas, where all you see is a fancy gate and a landscaped entrance and a security company sign, and what you don't see are all the rules and covenants if you dare to buy one of their high priced lots. I bet the folks on this road didn't have to ask permission to put the hay bales out by the mailbox with decorations of pumpkins and mums and cornstalks!

It was a nice peaceful drive through the country, so glad the bridge is fixed! I almost always would rather take the back roads as opposed to the main roads, so much more scenic and laid back. Guess I am just a Sunday driver at heart.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference

- Robert Frost

spring