There's not a problem in America today, 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 your 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 pillage, 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 & 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 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.
Paved roads lead to stress and danger. 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.
Written by Lee Pitts broadcast by Paul Harvey
I have lived almost my entire life on a dirt road! I wouldn't have it any other way. This story really reminds me of the 7 years that we lived on my inlaws farm at the end of the dirt road. So much of that is exactly how life was then. We had to ford a creek to get there. One year when my husband had just started working off of the farm, he was out at work and the creek flooded and washed out. The ruts was big enough to swallow his truck. He at least had his truck on the outside of the creek so he could get to work each day. It was a month before I left home because I wouldn't wade the creek in the cold water!! We didn't need groceries because we raised almost everything we ate. We had plenty of hobbies to keep us occupied at home!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. I live on a dirt road now but it's not quite the same as it was living on a farm at the end!! My family was the first house out from his family, I married my next door neighbor! We had to walk 1/2 mile to catch the schoolbus. (Up hill both ways) LOL!!!
This story brought back some good memories! Thanks for sharing!
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