Why I Love Taking the Long Way Home

by Kelly

“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.”  William Feather

I love adventure.

Now considering what a homebody I am, I totally understand how this might seem like a complete contradiction.  But here’s the thing… even homebodies need a change of scenery once in a while.  And so that’s why I responded with an enthusiastic “YES!!” when Tripp asked me if I wanted to take the long way home on Sunday.

So after spending the night in Norman following the OU football game on Saturday, Tripp suggested that rather than taking the turnpike back home, we take Highway 9 instead.  I guess he had had enough of the seemingly endless road construction and related traffic and congestion.  

  

But just venturing a guess here that although my beloved spouse expected the trip to take a bit longer, he probably did not expect that I would ask him to pull off down a country road so that I could take pictures of the wildflowers.  And rusty old mailboxes.

And I’m quite sure that he did not expect me to ask him to turn around so that I could get a few shots of some cows cooling off in a pond. 

But can I tell you….it was so fun to get off the beaten path. I mean this is just something I would ever see in my day-to-day life.  Plus Tripp and I had such a good laugh about me getting caught in the barbed-wire fence trying to get up closer to the cows.

So as we drove along the two-lane highway, we passed through several small towns.  Funny names like Pink, Little Axe, Bethel, and Tecumseh.   

Being a small town girl myself, I have a very soft spot for these wide spots in the road (as my dad would say) and the hardworking folks that make a living and raise their families there.  And although from the outside you might not know it – seeing as how I work in high-rise office building in downtown Tulsa – small town life is so very much a part of who I am.   Something I am quite proud of. 

This past weekend, taking the long way also spoke to me in a very particular way. Honestly you guys, lately I feel like I’ve been running in circles.  Typical me trying to squeeze too much into too short amount of time. Always thinking about what’s next.  Cycling through my endless mental to-do list.  On to the next thing without really ever stopping to be in THIS moment.  Not appreciating what is good right here and now.

Sunday’s little adventure for me was a wake-up call to S L O W down.  Pay attention.  Be open.  Set aside the agenda for a few minutes.  Breathe.  Truly be present in. this. moment. 

So if you’re thinking that you might like to take a little adventure of your own, I have a few tips to share with you:

1. Farmers will look at you funny.  Especially if you’re driving a Volvo. And your husband is wearing a pink shirt.
2. Speaking of husbands, it’s a good idea to have a look-out if you’re lying on the side of road taking pictures of wildflowers.
3. You will get chigger bites.
4. Watch out for snakes.  And grasshoppers.
5. Momma cows do not like city slickers getting close to their babies.
6. You will have to remove cockleburs from your flip-flops.

The cool thing about a little adventure like this is that it doesn’t cost a thing.  Except maybe an extra thirty minutes.  But what you get back in return…well, it’s makes an ordinary day a little less ordinary.  Which is the whole point I guess when you think about it. 

So how about you?  Have you taken the long way home lately?  We’d love to hear about any of your adventures and be sure to share a few shots in our Flickr pool while you’re at it. 

As for me…I’m off to find the anti-itch medicine. 

Love, Kelly