A memorial to Tom Mix can be seen off Highway 79 in Arizona. Mix was a silent movie cowboy. He died in an auto accident near this memorial. -- Photo by Pat Bean
When you set out on your journey to Ithaca, pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge.” — Constantine Peter Cavafy
Travels With Maggie
I should have a sign on the back of my RV that reads: I stop at roadside markers. Such frequent halts let me fully appreciate the landscape around me, give me an opportunity to take some photos, and time to listen and look for birds. It’s all about enjoying the journey as much as the destination.
The truth is, I’ve often enjoyed the journey more than the destination. But not all people think of a trip in the same way.
Twenty or so years ago, I drove cross-country with my oldest son, a career military man, and his wife. They were on their way to a new base where he had been transferred. My son’s only goal for the trip was the destination. Even pee stops were rationed.
His wife still laughs about the time I finally hit him on the head when he passed two service stations after I had told him that I needed a restroom break.
Echo Amphitheater is located off Highway 84 in New Mexico. No way would I have passed by without stopping for a closer look at this scenic beauty. -- Photo by Pat Bean
The next long trip I took with that same son was in 2004, when he drove back with me in my new RV from Texas to Utah. It took a week, with short stops at road markers all along the way and longer visits to places like Carlsbad Caverns and Monument Valley, to reach our destination.
That trip must have opened his eyes. I say so because he recently thanked me for helping him learn to enjoy each moment of a journey instead of always focusing on the destination ahead.
It’s one of the nicest compliments I’ve every received.
Pat Bean's blog 
You raise such a classic schism that exists between the sexes. Woman asks man to pull over and man effectively ignores her until she is about to wet her pants 🙂
I can remember my Mom and Dad quarrelling about it and it actually leading to some acute confrontations that usually ended with my Dad reluctantly pulling over AND then, of course, Mom complained about the dirty bathroom 🙂
Do you know if that amphitheater still hosts performances? We drove by and took pics of it and some of those powerful wind turbines located proximately.
As the mother of two adult sons who never stop to smell the roses I thoroughly enjoyed this post. 😀
The pressures so many of us feel today seem to conspire against enjoying the journey and even seem to make us resent it. I’m glad your son woke up, Pat, and many more happy trails to ya! Sam
Thanks Mom for teaching me that.
I wonder what it is about men and rest stops.
It’s so nice to be able to enjoy the journey and not have to worry too much about the destination. It’s something I wish I could do more often.