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!
~by Paul Harvey
10 comments:
OH! I thought YOU wrote this. It's one of the loveliest, best written pieces I've seen in a long time.
Thanks so much for sharing this; SO much wisdom here..
I LOVED it!!
Z..
I love it,too..and I WISH I could write like this!
Yes, so much wisdom, here.
Do you think it will ever be like that, again?
I hope so, don't you?
That's an excellent piece of writing -- and philosophizing. Thanks for reviving it.
Hi Jan,
I had read this somewhere before but I can't remember where. But it was great to read it again. The words are so true, things just aren't like they used to be are they?
Even though I live in a place that is mostly "dirt roads" the people at the end of them have changed. But I do remember a time when things were just as this writing says they were. It's to bad we have changed.
Hope you have a great day,
Bill
Hello Jan,
What a nice story! As I was reading this I realized how true it is. The more simple life was the more peaceful life.
I love the part where they only locked their cars in august so that no body would fill their cars up with zucchini. HOW CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a nice holiday weekend!
Granny J..I always admired Paul Harvey, and enjoyed listening to him on the radio, and was delighted when I found this a couple of years ago.
Bill..yes, times have changed, and not for the better, I'm afraid. It would be nice if things were still so nice and simple, wouldn't it?
I think this piece, written by Paul Harvey, has been around for a long time, but it bears reading many times, I think.
Lydia..I love reading about how things used to be, in a much simpler, and more peaceful time.
I can remember when I was growing up, never locking the doors at night, and sleeping with all the windows open...but who would dare to do that now?
I hope you and your family are having a nice holiday weekend. :)
I don't think so, Honey, but I wish it could.
just that one phrase about locking cars and zucchini says it ALL in so many ways.
Love, Vinegar (smile)
Z..you've made me laugh!
Actually, I think there's plenty of both in the two of us! :)
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