Route 66-based story
written by OC,SH’s founder, inspired by his September 2009 Route 66 road trip

CHAPTER 42: A PHRASE & MEMORABLE FAMILY DRIVES

“Are we all ready to go!?” was a phrase the sibling’s Dad queried each time the family got into the family car, no matter their destination. The eldest always thought it a little silly. If they weren’t ready to go, they wouldn’t be in the vehicle, right!?

Similar to how no matter how many times you hear certain songs you are always transported back to a certain place & time, that phrase always took the eldest back to the 1st time the family piled in the brand new 2000 Ford Crown Victoria. That sedan had just replaced their Mom’s favorite, the at-the-time recently former 1990 Dodge Caravan, which had effectively replaced the maroon 1976 Caprice as the family vehicle 10 years prior.

Their Dad was so proud of the 2000 Ford Crown Victoria. According to him, it was the 1st time since buying the 1976 Caprice he actually felt comfortable in a vehicle he’d just bought. He never had warmed up to the 1990 Dodge Caravan, even though he knew his wife was correct … it was the right vehicle for the family at that time.

The eldest remembered that, as he & his younger sister & younger brother climbed into the CV’s back seat, their Mom had admonished their Dad for getting a “smaller” vehicle, noting: “the kids probably feel crapped back there”.

“Ah, it won’t matter for long,” their Dad had retorted, glancing back at his children in the rearview mirror & grinning slyly. “The kids will soon be off & on their own anyway.”

The eldest remembers smiling at that statement. A moment later, his Dad uttered that famous query. All 3 siblings answered in the affirmative in unison & off they went. The eldest immediately fell in love with the ride, since it was so very similar to his favorite 1976 Caprice. He wondered to himself why they had ever gotten the Caravan….

While most would consider the drive they took that afternoon to be mundane, the eldest’s memory of it paints a different picture. While living in that moment with his parents & siblings, he found himself thinking of the 1st drive the family had taken in the maroon 1976 Caprice. As he watched the country side pass by, his mind’s eye saw old scenes & places & reminded him of the cyclical nature of life: things change, yet stay the same.

Back to the present with his younger brother sitting next to him in the tan 1976 Caprice, the eldest nodded after his brother answered the question affirmatively. The eldest anticipated realizing more life lessons along their Route 66 journey. He started the car, put it in drive & hit the gas pedal.