A Pleasant Night on the Pennsylvania Turnpike
June 10, 2015
The sun was low and the soft white clouds stretched across a dusky blue sky. The wind had died down significantly from the gusts of the afternoon to a gentle cool caress. So many times out on the road we are confined to the cab of the truck. Miles and miles to run as the clock counts down. "Hurry up, go." it says, "hurry up and get there." But last night it was quiet. Last night there was no rush. We were out on the road, somewhere in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania without a care in the world. No load to rush to. No clock taunting us. No highway teasing us. Just he and I and a peaceful evening breeze blowing through the open windows of the truck.
"Let's turn the truck off and go sit outside," he says. "Do you want to?" It should have been a rhetorical question.
The weather was so perfect why would anyone want to stay cooped up inside? After dinner we took the four-legged fur baby for a long walk all around the perimeter of the large parking area of the turnpike travel plaza. She ran and pranced and had a furry good time. The wind whisked through the long white strands of her tail making it look like a flag waving in the breeze. By the time we got back to the truck she was ready for some water and a soft spot to curl up for a nap.
The weather was so perfect why would anyone want to stay cooped up inside? After dinner we took the four-legged fur baby for a long walk all around the perimeter of the large parking area of the turnpike travel plaza. She ran and pranced and had a furry good time. The wind whisked through the long white strands of her tail making it look like a flag waving in the breeze. By the time we got back to the truck she was ready for some water and a soft spot to curl up for a nap.
After fixing some hot chai tea, grabbing my laptop and my jacket, he and I headed out to the front of the travel plaza where there were some wire mesh table and chairs. You are probably thinking sitting outside a busy travel plaza on a turnpike would be neither relaxing nor romantic. When you are confined to 73" of space day in and day out, any change of environment is a pleasant change of pace.
We sat and and watched the setting sun against the rolling hills of the Pennsylvania landscape. The cool breeze was a wonderful change from the scorching heat we are used to this time of year in Florida. No pesky bugs or humidity to intrude on the evening. I sipped my hot tea and worked on an article I had been procrastinating on for weeks. He had a soda and looked through a magazine. Every once in a while the distinctive sound of good old-fashioned jake brakes coming through un-muffled straight pipes would get our attention and we'd look up to watch, or drool, as the beast rolled by.
We talked about our dream truck. We talked about our near future plans. We talked about long-term future plans. We whispered sweet nothings and blew kisses in the soft winds. It was fully dark before we headed back to the truck. My article was complete and we were both completely refreshed and relaxed.
Its the little things that matter. Spending time together matters. Getting out together, even if it is just at a picnic table at a travel plaza. Anywhere is somewhere special, as long as the person you are with is special to you.
~Sierra Sugar
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