We had an early Christmas today with part of our family… I have to say that kids for the most party don’t have any idea what a dirt road is.
So if you are rushing about not being able to do everything you want for everyone this Christmas or buy your kids everything they want remember less is more.
Thank you to Cami Kesinger who reminded me of this post I blogged on back in 2007.
Dirt Roads — Attributed to Paul Harvey
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 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.
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 5 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 & 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 mail box.
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 if we didn’t some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.
At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you’d have to hitch up a team and pull them out.
Usually you got a dollar…always you got a new friend…at the end of a Dirt Road!
I post new stories, tips and quotes here every day, so bookmark my home page, and come back tomorrow for another kick to get you off your rear and doing what you came to this planet to do. I am dedicated to assisting you on your journey to discover and live your “Life On Purpose”. Tell a friend about this site.
Ana Lopez - February 5th, 2010 at 10:10 am
I love this. I’m 30 and lived my first 10 years of my life in Mexico. Where everything was exactly the way you described in this story. I couldn’t help remembering those days, when you learned as a child to appreciate the one and only toy you got for Christmas, regardless of the size. You knew that was it, and it was wonderfull. I have 3 boys ages 10, 7 and 3, and I wish we could go back to when there were more dirt roads for them to have the same fun I did growing up.
Now a days we are too worried about getting the most expensive item at the store, the newest release of a video game or the new ipad, and we forget about the days when the kids from the block would get together after finishing homework and play. A bag of marbles was enough to have some fun. Sometimes you didn’t need anything else but your imagination to enjoy an afternoon with your neighbors and friends.
Thank you Becca.