Country Roads, Take Me Home

On American Idol last night, one of the contestants sang "Country Roads" by John Denver. Yes, I watch American Idol and I do love country music. So Tuesday night's episode was a treat, American Idol with country music.

When the first contestant started his rendition of "Country Roads", I was excited. This songs holds many many memories for me. First of all, the West Virginia University marching band always started off football games with this song. I loved going to my alma mater's football games! And I would especially get excited when the band would play snippets of the song throughout the game.

Secondly, the song reminds me of the roadtrips my family would take when I was younger. We would either go to Ohio, to visit family friends or to New Jersey to visit my mother's sister and my father's colleagues. On our way back from these trips, it never failed, "Country Roads" would play on the radio. It was always about an hour after we crossed the West Virginia border. Being in isolated sections of the state, country radio stations were our only stations of choice. Either due to the popularity of the song or the fact that we were indeed in West Virginia, we would hear it at least one time before we got home.

I remember thinking it was good to go on vacation, but it was also great to be home. I've never felt so comfortable and warm as I do when I see that "blue ridged mountains" sky-line. It was always dark when we got home. But the song of the crickets and the smell of honeysuckle and my mother's rose garden embraced me. It always whispered, "welcome home, we missed you".

P.S. I threw up a little at the cheesiness. Barf bags available upon request.