09/03/2026
Before car seats clicked into place.
Before screens kept us quiet.
Before GPS told us every turn.
There was the “way back.”
The rear-facing seat.
The one that let you stare at the cars behind you.
The one that made every road trip feel like an adventure.
You waved at strangers.
Made faces at passing drivers.
Pretended the highway was a parade just for you.
Seatbelts were an afterthought.
Laughter was not.
The dog was wedged in somewhere.
The cooler rattled.
Mom passed sandwiches over the seat.
And Dad just drove.
No playlists.
Just the radio fading in and out.
And siblings arguing about who crossed the invisible line.
You got bored.
Then creative.
Then sleepy.
And somehow those long drives turned into the best memories of your life.
Because it wasn’t about the destination.
It was about being together in that big, wood-paneled wagon.
Rolling down the highway.
Chasing something simple.
Time.