Road tripping

Road tripping is fun, no matter where you're going. Yesterday Matt and I spent time in Wilson, Farmville, Greenville, Pactolus, Washington, Bath and Belhaven before going back to Washington to spend the night (it was the closest town within 25 miles that had non-roach motels to choose from).

Today we checked out Williamston, Jamesville, Plymouth, Edenton, Hertford, Elizabeth City, Morgan's Corner, Sunbury, Gatesville and Murfreesboro before landing here in Franklin, Va. (same reason as last night).

I am almost more intrigued by tiny towns like these (and their residents) than I am by big cities. Whether you love cities or hate them, it's easy to understand why so many people live in and around them. But how do people end up living their whole lives in the really super-small towns? How many of them are just stuck there? How many of them choose to be there? It fascinates me.

I think of Pinehurst as a small town, and will continue to at least until we get a Target, but it's nothing like most of these places -- they're mostly just glorified crossroads surrounded by mile after mile of deserted two-lane roads and huge flat fields. I cannot imagine living 25 miles from a Wal-Mart (even though I try to avoid ours) or 15 miles from an elementary school or 30 miles from any fast food or 60 miles from a decent hospital.

In the past 48 hours I have read enough trite sayings on church signs to last me a good long while. And Kate, I've thought of you a dozen times when passing cool old buildings or signs, etc.

Have you guys ever heard of Andy's Cheeseburgers and Cheesesteaks (or vice versa -- I forget)? I hadn't. They are in almost every town around here. Where there is nothing else, there's usually an Andy's. Maybe we'll eat there tomorrow, although Matt has been to the one in Pittsboro and didn't think it was anything spectacular.

So, that's all for now. I'd guess we'll be back Saturday, but we don't have much of a plan. If we make it back early enough, we have a movie marathon date with Amanda and Stephen! I still need to pick out my movie ...

That reminds me, as part of the Valentine's weekend I still haven't blogged about but still plan to one of these days, Matt and I tried to watch "West Side Story," and it was AWFUL! We couldn't finish it; I don't think we finished half of it. Matt can't stand to leave movies unfinished and he didn't even put up a fight. Meg said she and Drew quit halfway too. Does anyone think this is a good movie? It won about 10 Academy Awards, including (I think) best picture, but I don't get it.