Turn Left on Route 66: A Thanksgiving Special...

By 5:30am we had organized, packed the dog into the car and pulled out into the chilly 47 degree F morning.  It took approximately 15 minutes of whining and yips before Molly got a chance to stick her face out the window.  And by 7am she realized that we were not opening that window for her again.

Several hours later, and well into Oklahoma, quickly approaching Missouri, we were on familiar road, a road that had intrigued me with its history for a long time.  Just that I had the opportunity to travel on the Historic Route 66 was enough to make me happy, enough to say I had done it, traveled along another area that held some significance, and one that I never thought I'd have the opportunity to do.  Yet, this was our 3rd return trip along the path.

The left turn off I-44 onto route 66 brings us to the curvy mountain road toward St. Louis where the old style service station should be.  The station I have been attempting to get a photo of since the first time I laid eyes on it, but somehow, despite my attempts and determination to rediscover its location, I keep missing it.  This time, I have begun to wonder if it was a phantom.  It is driving me just a little crazy.

While Route 66 has some historical significance, we're driving on it for another reason, to meet with our missing family member (my husband) for Thanksgiving.  But the history of the road compels me to think of who traveled on this road before, and who was thankful that it was around back then.   We're thankful we can travel on such a significant road, that history plays a part in our travel and makes it a little more interesting than perhaps if it was a dusty trail.  Of course I could go on about the other things we're thankful for, but I'm all for recognizing the less obvious things too, like the roads, the ability to travel and the relative safety in it.  The ability to visit family and friends when we like and the interesting things we can think about while we're doing it.

If you're traveling, stay safe.  Don't tailgate.  Happy Thanksgiving.