Laura Johnson
Life & Arts Editor
Gas is currently $4.15 at Shell, and I think I might shoot someone (not to be taken as an actual threat).
It’s ironic that in a period of time when gas was even higher than it is now, I felt it necessary to take an American adventure via the highway. But, that’s the way it happened.
President Benton went on a road trip this summer, and so did I.
One of those gross no make-up, let’s-go-camping-in-the-woods instead of-stay-at-the-Hilton, kind of trips — for me, anyway, not so much Benton.
White Mustang, fully stocked with caffeine and amazing mixed CDs, my roommate and I left Malibu to take her car back to Texas — by way of the cliffs of Big Sur, the San Francisco bridge, the Red Woods, Yosemite National Park, Napa’s vineyards, Las Vegas, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon and a few podunk towns in West Texas — including President Bush’s hometown of Midland. They were all, for the most part, places to which I had never been.
The film “Road Trip” may have ruined the honest sense of decency that once threaded through the common road trip ideal.
But, no matter what the reason for going — be it (like the movie) to make sure a significant other never receives a incredibly risqué tape you accidentally sent or, as I did this summer, for no reason at all — the journey, not the destination is what really matters.
How tired is that aforementioned sentence? How overused is the “it’s all about the journey” saying, especially regarding college? We hear it all the time. Obviously, the destination does matter somewhere down the “road.”
This summer was beyond crazy. I’m not sure I even remember it, and not even for the usual reasons, either.
It was just a blur of epic proportions. It was about the people and music, and even my greasy hair that was there to accompany me.
The point is, this is what life is all about. Just getting in a car with no real destination and tearing up the road, one state at a time — living fully and freely as you go.
This year, I urge you to save up for gas, perhaps by not eating for a day or saying no to crack for a bit. Gas is the only real expense for a trip of this kind.
So, go grab someone awesome and leave it all behind. The “going” part is really the most important thing.
As we stumble back into the swing and swag of pretending to listen in class, writing papers the night before they’re due, faking tests and then starting the process all over again, remember that the weekend is just around the corner.
The Olympics are winding down, there is nothing good left on T.V. The time has come to stop worrying about being gorgeous at all times. Take a hike or a bike ride somewhere amazing.
Get on that road and drive. See how far your gas tank will take you, which may not be too far. But, it could be worse, I guess.
08-25-2008