We hit the road again! And what a trip: 6,800 total miles, 2 countries — US and Canada, 13 US states, 7 US National Park sites, 1 Canadian National Park, 3 Canadian Provincial Parks, 2 US state parks, 3 Great Lakes, 7 iconic road side attractions, 1 world famous apple fritter and … countless connections with the remarkable people along the way, all who made this trip so delightful.
Road trips are not just about what you see, but also about who you see it with, as well as about those you meet because of it. Being on the road — for 100 or 6,800 miles — inspires a reawakening for me of the homogeneity of the United States. I found that in Canada too.
Homogeneity — the Greek root homo-, means "same," and genos means "race" or "kind" — so homogeneity is the quality of being "the same kind." I love it when a word captures exactly what I’m experiencing. Traveling always renews my faith in people and their intrinsic kindness; regardless of what country I’m in. No matter where we stopped to eat, get gas, camp, take a tour, visit a site, wander through a museum, or buy a world famous apple fritter, we met people who were considerate, helpful and, what I would describe as downright, neighborly; happy to usher us into their lives and share their stories. And we shared ours in brief encounters, at meal times over local fare, at iconic roadside attractions or parked next to neighbors at a campground.
In the hubbub of navigating life, embracing the idea of homogeneity can get lost in the rigor of obligations and responsibilities. Travel takes us outside of that environment and puts us in situations that have different customs, habits and mores. What an opportunity to expand our understanding of those practices. And learn how others navigate their world. Those practices are, more often than not, similar to my own.
A revelation? More accurately a confirmation that in these chance encounters … however long the moment … remind me that we’re a community … whether we meet on a road trip, live next door to each other, are residents of a the same state or united as citizens of a country.
So let’s embrace what we have in common and accept and tolerate what we don’t — and get out on the road!
FYI: A gallery of great stops in the US and Canada … complete with friendly people.
