Drive time is a great time to enjoy nature

"And it makes me wanna take a back road. Makes me wanna take the long way home. Put a little gravel in my travel. Unwind, unravel all night long." - Rodney Atkins "Take a Back Road"

My favorite part of the day is the drive home after a long day of work and exercising. I live out in the country, so I'm always sure to take the back roads.

On those country roads there are no deadlines, no cars hurrying to their next destination and no cell phone signal.

During those 15-minute drives, it's just me, the country music blaring from my stereo too loud, and the little critters along the roadside.

I always have a flashback to one of my favorite childhood movies, "Homeward Bound," when I see groups of dogs walking through the pastures without a care in the world.

It's impossible to drive fast down the country roads because wildlife is always hiding in the tree line, waiting for a chance to cross the road.

A family of turkeys deterred my travel time last week, but rather than try to rush them out of the way I was able to enjoy seeing the little babies wobble along the roadside.

I imagine the camaraderie among the animals, as their only worry for the day is to eat and get some water.

The change of seasons from spring to summer to fall makes the drive different every few months. So far springtime is my favorite because of the various flowers blooming along the side of the road.

This year's highlight was the bright orange flowers entangled in the weeds.

As fall approaches I look forward to the changing of the leaves. The now green leaves will start to turn fiery orange and red before they fall to the ground to prepare for winter.

The large pastures and farms along the route always catch my eye. The scene is ever changing with plants being harvested and the animals moving around to fill their needs.

I love being able to take my time to enjoy the scenery while everyone else in town is worried about how quickly the stretch of highway will get them home.

Sunday's rainy weather was perfect to sit on the front porch with a hot cup of tea, and take a moment from the craziness of the world around me.

The only sound was the rain beating on the metal porch. It was nice to take a moment and not worry about finances, work or the constant want of other people. My only worry was the tea warming me as a breeze blew through.

The best part about living in the country is lack of traffic down the road. Travelers are so few we always have to peak out the window to see who is driving by.

There is no worry about my nephew taking off across the yard and running into the road because our front yard is so large.

There are no trucks at 2 a.m. revving their engines and no car alarms in the middle of the night.

I've spent time living in the "big city," and I couldn't handle the constant rush of those on the expressway.

Trees seemed few and far between, and there was no wildlife to enjoy in their natural habitat.

Next time you feel you are going to burst as deadlines and life continue to pile up, take a drive through those country roads and just enjoy the scenery.

Sabrina is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by email at swestfall@gcdailyworld.com or by telephone at 848-4487.