Monday, November 1, 2010

Miles from nowhere, like a song and new outfit

- A packed dirt road in the wilderness of northern Florida. It leads to my sister and brother-in-law's home and acreage, as well as to other farms and plantations. There is a controversy right now that a newcomer to the road wants it paved. No one else wants that. The road adds to the charm of the area, I think.

- We still have my father's SUV and I feel close to him as I drive it to meet the family at my sister's church in the country. He loved this area, with its miles and miles of farmland, grazing cows and giant live oaks. The last family member who drove it left the radio set to a country music station and it seems fitting to hear Kenny Chesney sing about the boys of fall while I drive the truck of a man who always bought Fords.

- A little boy in the childrens' choir my sister directs throws his arms around her legs and looks up, asking "Do you like my outfit?!?" He has a new one especially for this morning since he will be singing with the others in front of the church for the first time.

15 comments:

Fireblossom said...

I love that song "Miles From Nowhere." Isn't there always one person or couple that just doesn't get it?

That is so cute about the little boy, so proud of his new outfit and joining the group. :-)

Lance said...

I love that dirt road - and it really adds to the charm and peacefulness of what that picture represents.

And very cute - that little boy in his new outfit!

Louvregirl said...

Hey Lynn! That looks akin to the roads we travel! Well done!
lg :) :)

TALON said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TALON said...

You're right about the dirt road. There are some places that just need to be left just the way they have been...change is not always a good thing.

I love musical co-incidences like that!

Aww! about the little boy :)

desk49 said...

The voice you hear
The clothes he wears
The first time
And a little scared

Country Western for a county drive
Cows and oaks and a church near by
An SUV the family now share
To get from here to over there.

A dirt road we all run down
No pavement on it can be found
Not all wants to keep it the same
So we now play the yes or no game

Jannie Funster said...

I think the dirt road is charming too.

Kenny Chesney -- what a talent!

Ahh, what a smile it gives me about the little boy. Kids blurt out the sweetest things.

Lynn said...

FB -

That song popped into my head when I was thinking of a title this morning. I love it, too.

I think there will be a big fight over the paving if it comes to that. The property to the right is an enormous plantation that some wealthy people own - they don't want the paving, so it probably won't happen. :)

Isn't that the cutest thing? He is a great kid, too.

Lance -

They have had that property for a long time and finally built a house on it about 10 years ago. I love it there - it is so quiet.

lg -

You would see some pretty sights in north Florida, but nothing compares to your lovely photos of western North Carolina!

Talon -

That was a lovely few minute drive - I felt very close to dad.

Ellis -

I like that - thank you for my poem. A great wrap-up!

Jannie -

A tribute to how much children love my sis, too. They sang a song called "He knows my name" and my sister had a slide show in the background in which each child had been photographed holding a big sign with their name on it that they decorated. It brought tears to my eyes.

Ileana said...

Beautiful dirt road...it DOES add to the charm! Wish we had something like this in South Florida.

Cool and sweet how the Kenny Chesney song came on at just the right time. I'll have to check it out on YouTube.

Meredith said...

Ah, I love old dirt roads, Lynn, and you took a great photo of this one. Why would you ever choose to pave one, I wonder? If it's the road they live on, it's not as if they need to drive faster down it.

We used to know we were coming to my Granddaddy's house by the last turn onto the dirt road. Sadly, that road, too, got paved some years back.

I'm glad you got to relive memories of your dad by driving his Ford. :)

G. B. Miller said...

That's pretty cool how you can touch upon the memories and presence of your dad like that.

I do that every so often with an old gardening hat of his. Sort acts like a stabilizer in a world of chaos.

Riot Kitty said...

I love that vignette and the question about the outfit!

Lynn said...

Ily -

I think so, too. Isn't it interesting how different north and south Florida are from each other?

Meredith -

That one couple doesn't like it because their cars get so dirty. It is just a given that your car will have red dust on it. My brother in law told the man that he knew that when he built him place there. I agree. :)

You don't see dirt roads about much anymore. That's why I like this one.

G -

I really felt his presence. Just driving his truck made me think of him picking it out.

Riot Kitty -

Thank you!

Snaggle Tooth said...

I've been driven down similar roads to camps in Northern Maine- n paving needs alot of maintance too- n may encourage more non-resident traffic as well!
Great to have something he liked n ride it thru that nice place- I saw some similar farm territory on Northern Fl when driving to the west coast there to visit my sisters. I like it too-
The easy love of children is gold!

Lynn said...

Snaggle -

It's nice to know there are other lovely spots like this around the country.

And I love that phrase - the easy love of children. May it always be so.