Get your kicks on Route 66

My thoughts are often bound by the shackles of conventional wisdom. However, my actions seem to be less often restricted.

I turned 28 on Friday. That's right, twenty eight years young. I became very retrospective upon this birthday for some reason. In my early 20's the age of twenty eight seemed further away than that ice planet at the end of our solar system that is actually bigger than pluto. Thoughts of being 28 then were accompanied by visions of a suburban house, a hot wife, a new-born baby and a golden retriever. Of course conventional wisdom (or should I say society) were viciously implanting those thoughts in my naive head, but nevertheless, the highway was being paved.

Now, as the inevitable has finally occurred, the highway, though less often traveled, still exists and is maintaining a staunch presence in the infrastructure of my cluttered mind. Its kind of like the old Route 66 that used to be a main thoroughfare across the country, but now is more of a historical figurine.

When my mind decides to take a quick trip down Rt. 66 the kicks aren't exactly what they used to be. I question the scenery on Rt. 66. Why is buying a house so damn important? Why is getting married or having kids so common along the hallowed highway? If everyone else jumped off a bridge would you do it?

Rt. 66 must not be that bad of a place to be since everyone else takes their gas guzzling SUVs on joyrides everyday. Are they making the conscious choice to veer off the interstate and take a trip down the historical two-laner or are their minds just paved with a thicker slab of asphalt?

Maybe I will one day be cruising comfortably down Rt. 66 on my way to enjoying the sweet fruits of following conventional wisdom. I suppose that the interstate or even the back roads can get you to the same place, but which is a better ride?

I guess I have at least some control of the wheel.