PoetWilliamStaffordoncesaidthatwearedefinedmorebythedetours(绕行路)inlifethanbythenarrowroadtowardgoals.Ilikethisimage.ButitwasquitebyaccidentthatIdiscoveredthedeepmeaningofhiswords.

ForyearswemadethelongdrivefromourhomeinSeattletomyparents’homeinBoiseinninehours.Wetraveledthewaymostpeopledo:thefastest,shortest,easiestroad,especiallywhenIwasalonewithfournoisy,restlesskidswhohateconfinement(限制)andhavestrongopinionsabouteverything.

Roadtripsfeltrisky,soIwoulddrivefast,stoppingonlywhenIhadto.Wewouldsticktothefreewaysandarrivetired.

ButthenBanner,ourlambwasborn.HewasrejectedbyhismamadaysbeforeourplannedtriptoBoise.Ihadtwochoices:leaveBannerwithmyhusband,ortakehimwithme.Myhusbandmadethedecisionforme.

ThatishowIfoundmyselfontheroadwithfourkids,ababylambandnothingbutmyeverlastingoptimismtoseemethrough.Wetookthecountryroadsoutofnecessity.Wehadtostopeveryhour,letBannershakeouthislegsandfeedhim.Thekidschasedhimandoneanother.They’dgetbackinthecarbreathlessandenergized,smellingfreshfromthecoldair.

Weexploredsideroads,catchinggrasshoppersinwaist-highgrass.Evenifwesimplylookedoutofthecarwindowsatbabypigsfollowingtheirmother,orfishleapingoutofthewater,itwasbetterthanthebestridedownthefreeway.Herewaslife.Andnewhorizons(见识).

Weeventuallyarrivedatmyparents’doorstepastonishinglyfreshandfullofstories.

Igrewbravewiththetripbackhomeandcreativewithmydiscipliningtechnique.Onanemptysectionofroad,everyonestartedquarreling.Istoppedthecar,orderedallkidsoutandtoldthemtomeetmeupahead.Iparkedmycarhalfamileawayandreadmybookinsweetsilence.

Someroadtripsarebynecessityfastandstraight.ButthattripwithBanneropenedoureyestoaworldavailabletoanyoneadventurousenoughtowanderaroundandmademerealizethatadetourmayuncoverthebestpartofajourney—andthebestpartofyourself.

小题1:Whydidtheauthorusetotakefreewaystoherparents’home?