This post was written in partnership with Ruby Slipper Car Seat Cover. All opinions are my own.
We are all going a bit stir crazy right now. Most of us have been sheltering in place for ten or more weeks! Sure, we get out to do the essential grocery shopping trips but when is the last time you just got in the car for no reason?
The last time I got behind the wheel, I felt like a teenager who just got my license. Driving felt so odd and I cannot remember the last time I filled up my tank with gas. It just figures that now that the prices are so low for gas, we don’t need as much.
For our aging loved ones who are high risk, chances are someone else is running their essential errands for them. So, our elderly population is potentially getting out even less than the rest of us.
Driving Memories
Growing up in a family of eight (yes, six kids!), mom and dad were always looking for low budget entertainment options. Going for a joy ride in our simple small town in Pennsylvania meant that potentially there could be a trip to the Taste-Freez or penny candy store. No surprise my siblings and I were always up for a joy ride.
Our vacation destination was usually Hubbard Lake, Michigan (where my sister, mom and brother now live permanently). These longer road trips meant playing travel bingo or the license plate game.
As a teenager in suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, as soon as we got our licenses we loved to go for joy rides. We would turn up the tunes and drive up and down Roswell Road which turned into Peachtree Road. Sometimes we would wind up at Chastain Park and socialize with classmates.
Now that we have our own family road trips, we still play some travel games. One of our favorites is the ‘yellow game’. The first to spot any yellow vehicle earns points. The bigger the vehicle the more points you earn. We usually just play until we get to our destination. We have also adapted this point game into the ‘flag game’ – earning points for spotting the stars and stripes. This is great game option for more local back road drives.
New Pandemic Memories
I have never noticed the daily changes of spring so much as I have this year during the coronavirus pandemic.
Jumping in the car for a simple joy ride allows us a larger geographical area to soak up Mother Nature’s rainbow of beauty.
When you care for someone with mobility issues, taking a joy ride can be easier said than done. Family caregiver Katherine Miles cared for her mom and getting her in and out of the car was a struggle. I can relate. When I was mom’s primary caregiver, I used to have to take her to appointments or family functions and it was an event to get her in and out of the car. We even kept her car merely to drive her because she only knew how to maneuver this specific vehicle.
Katherine’s pain point prompted her to create a product she named after her mom, Ruby. Her prototype eventually became the Ruby Slipper Car Seat Cover. Here is a video showing this helpful product in action:
About once a week, usually after a less than stellar dinner, we have been going for a joy ride for an evening treat, typically ice-cream. We take our dog since we know we are staying in the car. We particularly love the drive thrus which have a complimentary treat for Shadow. I am certain if we had tails, when someone mentions going for a joy ride, we would be wagging our tails, too!
Getting out and about just feels good. And who doesn’t want to feel better?
Take Action
Go for a simple joy ride with your family. Turn up the tunes and wander aimlessly or drive through a local business prepared with your masks, wipes, and own napkins. If you are going for a longer ride, play the ‘flag’ or ‘yellow’ game.
Happy cruisin’!
