Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Urge to For Going

There is never a time in my life when I wouldn't want to take a trip but at certain periods what I want to do more than anything is get in my car and just drive; grab my tent, leash up Ginny, fill the tank, and set off. There is something so wonderful about a road trip. Driving for hours on end allows my brain to be at peace and truly contemplate the universe.

Joni Mitchell has a song call "Urge For Going". One of the most powerful verses is :
"The warriors of winter they gave a cold triumphant shout
And all that stays is dying and all that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight flapping and racing on before the snow
They've got the urge for going, they've got the wings to go".

Every winter I feel that same sensation of being trapped and all I want to do is leave. Something about the low clouds and freezing weather makes it hard to get the motivation to leave my bed. Summer gives us the sense of possibility while winter locks our souls away. The song has one line which always scares me a little. "I get the urge for going but I never seem to go." Even as I feel stuck by the harshness of the season I have to remember the time will come when the possibility to leave is present. Luckily, Louisiana has decided that the end of February is the beginning of Spring. I'm now looking forward to be able "to go" and working on planning some of my upcoming road trips.

-Jade