As children, we all have that object that brings us some sort of peace and comfort. For many, it's a stuffed animal or blanket of some kind. But what happens when you outgrow that object? I remember sleeping with a blanket every night and then one day realizing I didn't need it anymore. As we grow older, we still need that same comfort, but I feel as if we find it in different things, things we may stumble upon or grow to love over time. For me, that comfort is a dirt road.
If you listen to almost any country song, more than likely you'll hear the artist sing about a back road or something happening in the country. I may have started to grow up in the city, but my heart has always been in the country. I adored spending time at my grandparents house and when my family moved to the outskirts of town, I was happy to be out in the country too. The drive from "in town" is about 10 minutes, not too far out, just far enough. Turning off of the pavement onto the gravel is one of the best feelings to me. You hit the dirt, and you drive. You go as far as your heart wants to, and as long as your head (and gas tank) will let you. You drive, turn, and breathe with how the road bends, and along the way you may find the greatest and most pleasant of surprises. My favorite place to star gaze was found on a random cruise with some of my best friends. I've had the hardest conversations in the middle of nowhere. I've been stuck in the pouring rain, soon after a pretty serious thunder storm, where I couldn't even tell what street I was on. I've discovered new songs, broken in cowboy boots, developed stronger relationships, fallen in and out of love, realized the truth, found myself, and made incredible memories driving on a dirt road. I find so much comfort beneath a star-lit sky with no lights from the city to alter the view. I find comfort in having security in my thoughts and control of the car and destination. I hit the gravel and all my problems drain away, even if it's just for 10 minutes. I can cruise a back road for hours, but can't drive on the interstate to the mall without getting tired. You bend and turn, but the road never breaks, and in a way keeps you from breaking too. You learn the ways the roads connect and lead to some of your favorite places. You see the sun rise and set on these roads, and you know they'll always be there for you. Comfort seems to reside in the simplest of things, and I am thankful that my comfort can be found almost any place and is available under every circumstance.
