Breaking the Highway Habit

Posted by Jill Browne Oct 4, 2007

In writing about the Botanic Garden at Olds College I had the chance to think about the typical experience of driving between Calgary and Edmonton.

This is something everyone who drives must be familiar with - well, not necessarily the drive on Highway 2 in Alberta - but the drive from City A to City B. Los Angeles to San Francisco. Toronto to Montreal. Sydney to Melbourne, Milano to Roma, Springfield to Shelbyville, even Dog River to Woollerton.

We get in the car, put on the tunes, turn off the brain. Yes, we drive carefully, but after doing the same route over and over, we've sort of seen it all. Does this sound familiar? Do you ever drive for three hours and then realize you can't remember doing it?

TURN OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT.

Whatever it is, just take it. Who knows? There might be a 50's diner - not a replica, the real thing. Maybe a logging camp with the last surviving cookhouse in the USA. Even a beautiful gem of a botanic garden, empty and waiting for you to smell the flowers.

Life's too short for straight lines.