CB Moments - Dirt Roads

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replying the story in its archived form does not constitute a re-publiccation of the story.

by Paul Harvey

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 and
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
rides on Daddy's shoulders... and you 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