A Senior’s Observations, Opinions and Rantings
Senior Moments
Traditionally, summer is the time for families to take to the road, be it a long weekend or a more ambitious, extended journey.
It is prudent, for a more extensive journey, to make some preparations for your safety and comfort. Although I don’t claim to be an expert in this field, I do have considerable experience based on my traveling along the east coast to Maine and numerous trips to Florida. We also drove west to Colorado, Wyoming and Montana three times with the longest journey covering 9,000 miles over almost three months. Along the way we have learned a few things.
First, and most importantly, give your vehicle a thorough going over. I know we all have access to a GPS but a road atlas is essential as a backup. On one trip through Arkansas, the GPS directed us along a secluded one lane dirt road through some “holler” where Confederate flags were boldly displayed. With our vehicle adorned with bikes and beach chairs on the back and our Jersey plates, if we broke down, I didn’t think we’d be invited to share a mason jar of moonshine with them on the sofa in the yard, while admiring the tree growing out of the hood of a rusting pickup truck. After consulting our atlas, we see where we could have rerouted to avoid that “road.”
Other items we included were a tire repair kit including plugs and three cans of Fix-a Flat and an air compressor. A cooler with snacks and water is handy as well as a variety of extra batteries, a battery brick, tools, flashlight, duct tape, rags or paper towels, fire extinguisher, Tylenol, Motrin, Tums, toothpicks, your meds if you take them. Have a list of important phone numbers printed out, just in case. A good knife can come in useful. You never know when you might have to cut up an apple. Bring along some cash; the amount determined by the length of your journey.
The safety of you and your family is paramount. Unfortunately, random acts of violence are not unheard of, so I urge you to consider taking measures at whatever levels you are comfortable with to ensure you are protected. We also travel with an extensive first aid backpack with everything from band aids to tourniquets. You may find, as I have, that the contents may be used to aid other people who are injured, not just for yourselves. Our first aid kit is a work in progress as gaps in the inventory present themselves, which they inevitably do. Recently, we were at Costco when my situational awareness temporarily went offline causing my forearm to slam into an immovable object. I watched with curiosity and concern as a lump immediately started rising from my arm. I grabbed a handful of napkins from the concession stand, filled them with ice and pressed it against my arm as my wife looked on with an inquisitive expression and the inevitable eyeroll. I held the makeshift icepack on until I got to the car and tied it on with a kerchief from my first aid kit. The next day, I bought a box of Instant Cold Packs and an Ace bandage to add to our kit.
Finally, a playlist of your favorite songs, podcasts and even books on tape can make the long miles pass by more quickly. A little preparation can go a long way, so get out there and safely enjoy your adventures on the great American roads.
Charles Eberson has been in the newspaper business for over 25 years. He has worked as a writer, advertising executive, circulation manager and photographer. His photography can be viewed at charles-eberson.fineartamerica.com
