Of Long Drives and Nostalgia

The catharsis of being on the road.

My Lovely Sara,

How shines the sun on your side of the planet? Does it soothe, it’s rays bearing nothing but warmth, cast light deep into your soul. Does it light up your morning, casting aside the dark, chasing away The Great Shadow and beckoning the morn? I hope it does, for you deserve nothing less.

I enjoyed some sun on the road today. Window down, the breeze rushing in, the rhythmic monotone of the engine firing away on all cylinders. There’s something about it. It’s in the rhythmic hum of the tarmac beneath the tires. It’s in the nearly hypnotic sight of trees whipping past in parallax to the ever-slow horizon. It’s in the vibrations sneaking up your spine as the metal beast beneath you purrs and roars, chewing up the distance between you and the objective.

There’s something cathartic about that. It speaks to the soul. The wind blows away the gathered dust of recent existence. The hum of the tarmac becomes the white noise orchestra that plays the calming tune. The soothing vibrations provided by the metal hulk seep into your very bones and slowly shake off the dirt. And the sights. It’s all about the sights. Like a child exposed to the world for the first time, the explorer within us beckons. Nay, shouts for action. A clarion call to chase the horizon. A will to solve the mystery of the next hill, to cross the next valley, to rush across the plain and embrace the setting sun. We seek to find what’s beyond and the machine we ride takes us there at speeds we could never fathom. There’s something primal about it and it is O so satisfying.

I, however, decided to spike my catharsis cocktail with something a little more potent; Nostalgia. My road today took me to the hills where I grew up. Winding roads and majestic vistas were adorned by the evening sun. The plains below stretched out in all their glory. And like a young man about to draw a lady like one of those French girls, I simply stared at the beauty, taking it in. The irony was not lost on me. Growing up, these were everyday scenes. I was so used to them that I never gave them a second glance. They were just a part of the environment, of the day. But now, going back after a while, I am struck by the beauty that one would so casually ignore. The fresh air, the singing birds, the slow sweet sound of a nearby river. The rustle of trees as the wind whispers past them, the beautiful backdrop of hills and the great view of the valley. I wish you were there to see it.

Let’s just say my heart was lifted. And for now, my soul a little cleaner, the load a little lighter. I head back to the city. To the noise of it all. But somewhere in my heart, I’ll keep a little piece of this beauty. Right here, next to you.

Have a restful day.

Yours, Always,

Lawrence

#Driving #Love #Nostalgia #Roads