Alright, if you’ve seen any of this site or even slightly know who I am then you probably figured this out already: I do things the hard way 90% of the time. Or in some way that takes longer, but I get there in the end. One thing I almost always do that takes a little longer is choose the frontage road that runs parallel to the fast-paced interstate.
Anyway, I work in a bigger town about 60 miles from where I live, so it’s a 50 minute drive most days. I was driving home, my husband following me after a concert in the same town I work in. Before we split ways he said “I’m going to take the frontage road out so I’ll see you at home.” His truck wasn’t happy with the drive over on the interstate and I didn’t miss a beat when I said “oh, well I’ll take frontage with you!” He mentioned taking it only partway before getting back on the interstate. I turned down that idea and told him to follow me all the way.
Once we got through the second town I realized that even though the sun had set a while ago I knew this road very well. Well enough to the point that even with the dark night sky I felt like I had it memorized. As if it was ingrained into me.
Not because I was paying attention that night. Because I’d been paying attention all the nights before.
To be fair, I have traveled the length of this road many times. More so now with my 60 mile drive to work and 40 of those miles can either be interstate miles or frontage road miles.
Here’s the thing, EVERYONE takes the interstate. You get the big rigs, tourists, bikes, newbies, speed demons, & the worst of all, construction. The frontage road? Less people, better views, and better fuel mileage (we all know that’s important). I mean, what more reasons do you need? If you’re going to tell me the time it adds to your drive…go away with that nonsense. That’s not why we are here nor is it what The Long Way Home is about. Plus, I’ll put you in on a little secret. You ready? It really doesn’t add more than 5 to 10 minutes. If five or ten extra minutes sounds like too much…well, maybe this is exactly where you’re supposed to be.
This life, this rock, this country, this land we live on day after day is crazy enough. We don’t need to make it crazier or harder for ourselves. So if taking the long way home feels right, then do it. Slow down.
I wrote this at 10 pm on a very long Monday when I in fact did not take the frontage road home because it was so late the interstate was empty anyway. I hope you’ll stick around to hear more epiphanies and whatever else comes along.
I’ll meet you back here soon. Until then, take the long way home.
Jocelyn
The Long Way Home 