In July, my daughter, Liza, accepted an offer to begin a Ph.D. program in canine cognitive behavior at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Upon her acceptance, we began to immediately map out how she would get to Lubbock from Brooklyn and take her car. There was an important catch—she was going to Lubbock with two bulldogs. That meant it was difficult to fly due to the bulldogs‘ breathing issues. After much contemplation, it was agreed I would drive the 1,735 miles from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, to Lubbock, Texas, with my daughter and the bulldogs in tow.
We set out on the evening of August 2, staying overnight outside Pittsburgh. We then traveled through Ohio, Indiana, and Southern Illinois, stopping overnight in Springfield, Missouri, near the Ozarks. The next morning, we set out on our final journey to our destination, traveling through Oklahoma arriving in the Western Texas city of Lubbock on the evening of August 4.
Although I originally was dreading the 1,735-mile trek, the road trip suddenly became an enjoyable journey of adventure and connection between father and daughter. While driving, I, of course, listened to Springsteen on E Street Radio. Liza, while she was driving, listened to her favorite band, the Foo Fighters.
The road trip became a metaphorical journey as well, as we discovered more about ourselves and each other. Liza listened in on some of my business calls while driving and discovered more about what I do on a daily basis. I learned more about Liza’s Ph.D. program and the new life she was about to embark on. As the miles rolled by, conversations ranged from the trivial to the profound, from discussing favorite songs to sharing dreams and aspirations. The road trip provided the perfect canvas for meaningful conversations that might not have unfolded in the confines of daily life.
In a world where time often slips through our fingers and distractions abound, this father and daughter’s cross-country road trip serves as a reminder that some of life’s most precious moments can be found by simply hitting the road and embracing the journey with a loved one by your side. Our journey was a testament to the idea that the true value of a journey is not the destination, but in the connections we forge and the growth we experience along the way.