PoetWilliamStaffordoncesaidthatwearedefinedmorebythedetours(绕行路)inlifethanbythenarrowroadtowardgoals.Ilikethisimage.ButitwasquitebyaccidentthatIdiscoveredthedeepmeaningofhiswords.

ForyearswemadethelongdrivefromourhomeinSeattletomyparents’homeinBoiseinninehours.Wetraveledthewaymostpeopledo:thefastestshortesteasiestroadespeciallywhenIwasalonewithfournoisyrestlesskidswhohateconfinement(限制)andhavestrongopinionsabouteverything.

RoadtripsfeltriskysoIwoulddrivefaststoppingonlywhenIhadto.Wewouldsticktothefreewaysandarrivetired.

ButthenBannerourlambwasborn.HewasrejectedbyhismamadaysbeforeourplannedtriptoBoise.Ihadtwochoices:leaveBannerwithmyhusbandortakehimwithme.Myhusbandmadethedecisionforme.

ThatishowIfoundmyselfontheroadwithfourkidsababylambandnothingbutmyeverlastingoptimismtoseemethrough.Wetookthecountryroadsoutofnecessity.WehadtostopeveryhourletBannershakeouthislegsandfeedhim.Thekidschasedhimandoneanother.They’dgetbackinthecarbreathlessandenergizedsmellingfreshfromthecoldair.

Weexploredsideroadscatchinggrasshoppersinwaist-highgrass.Evenifwesimplylookedoutofthecarwindowsatbabypigsfollowingtheirmotherorfishleapingoutofthewateritwasbetterthanthebestridedownthefreeway.Herewaslife.Andnewhorizons(见识).

Weeventuallyarrivedatmyparents’doorstepastonishinglyfreshandfullofstories.

Igrewbravewiththetripbackhomeandcreativewithmydiscipliningtechnique.Onanemptysectionofroadeveryonestartedquarreling.Istoppedthecarorderedallkidsoutandtoldthemtomeetmeupahead.Iparkedmycarhalfamileawayandreadmybookinsweetsilence.

Someroadtripsarebynecessityfastandstraight.ButthattripwithBanneropenedoureyestoaworldavailabletoanyoneadventurousenoughtowanderaroundandmademerealizethatadetourmayuncoverthebestpartofajourney—andthebestpartofyourself.

小题1:Whydidtheauthorusetotakefreewaystoherparents’home?A．Itwaslesstiring.B．Itwouldbefasterandsafer.C．Herkidswouldfeellessconfined.