| DIRT ROADS
Joker Ridge, Autumn
What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt
Roads have been paved. There's not a problem in America today; crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.
People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that
life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth
sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is a home, a loving spouse,
happy kids, and a dog.
We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system
if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids,
from whom they learn how to get along.
In the Village of Hur about 70 years ago about 15 kids walked a dirt road to catch the school bus, some traveling a good distance.
There was less crime in our streets before they were paved.
Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew
they'd be welcomed by five barking dogs
and a double barrel shotgun.
And there were no drive by shootings.
Our values were better when our roads were worse! People did
not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more
courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in
front would choke you with dust and bust your windshield with
rocks.
Dirt Roads taught patience. Dirt Roads were environmentally
friendly; you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to
the barn for your milk. For your mail you walked to the mailbox.
What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was
the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted
marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and
learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody.
At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words
tasted like soap.
Most paved roads lead to trouble. Dirt Roads more likely lead
to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. At the end of a Dirt Road, the
only time we even locked our car was in August, because some neighbor
would fill it with too much zucchini.
At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime
income, from when the city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch
up a team and pull them out; usually got a dollar and a new
friend at the end of a Dirt Road.
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