Over winter break I had the opportunity to travel over 4,500 miles from Minnesota to Louisiana, back to Minnesota, and then on to Troy. The open road—usually uninteresting—can actually provide some entertainment if you pay attention.
From license plates, road signs, to the names of things—there is plenty to give you a nice chuckle every few hundred miles. Recently, I passed a car from Missouri traveling northbound on I-55 which had a special “Stop child abuse” license plate. Who thought that a license plate would stop child abuse?
While driving along I-55 through Missouri you may find the Trail of Tears State Park. Why would anyone ever want to commemorate such a tragedy, which killed thousands of Native Americans, by naming a state park after it?
Apparently things need to be simplified a bit for those who live in the south. From Arkansas all the way to New Orleans along I-55 you will find signs next to bridges that say, “Bridge may ice in cold weather.” Maybe it is a thing that all Yankees know, that bridges will ice over before the rest of the road surface. It makes me think of the times when I turn on the TV to see a state below the Mason-Dixon Line receiving—maybe—two inches of snow and seeing hundreds of auto accidents clog its freeways.
Mississippi drivers must really have rocks for brains. Why, you ask? Their department of transportation had to install signs every few miles that read, “Keep off median.” Is that not common sense?
Mississippi consistently provides stimulating food for thought, like the fact that the last four or five bridges I passed were branded with the slogan, “Trust Jesus.” Well that’s it. They’ve converted me. Here comes another bridge—yep, it told me yet again to “Trust Jesus.”
I hope this editorial finds you all in good health in this New Year and on your second day of classes. Next time you need to travel somewhere, consider driving. Not only does it provide hours upon hours of quality time to spend with the other occupants of the vehicle, you might see something interesting.
