What are your plans for the summer? Hopefully you will fit some kind of driving vacation in to the busy times. Many of our driving trips hovered around the National Lampoon Family Vacation level of intelligence. This clip should bring it back.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfmKwgrQzdE

Our kids are adults now and when we get together and reminisce, what do we talk about? Those crazy, annoying family driving vacations. Times when Dad got lost, times when Dad acted like a jerk, times when Dad made us pledge allegiance together as a family at Mount Rushmore. Here’s the story.

As I was walking up the stairs at Mt. Rushmore I decided to head over to the restroom (a normal move for me, never miss an opportunity to pee.) As I stood outside the restroom I had a great view of Mt. Rushmore and decided to stand their and slowly say the Pledge of Allegiance. I was surprised at how moved I was by this action.

I got Debby and the kids to come to this same spot and told them I wanted them to do something with me. I said, “I know this may sound odd, but I want us all to stand here and say the Pledge of Allegiance.” We did.

After we finished and were walking away, Lex said, “Dad, maybe that special feeling was just something you had because it felt stupid for the rest of us.” I was undaunted and continued chattering on to Debby about these great men and how each of their lives helped form our country. Debby looked at me and said, “I don’t even know who those 4 guys are.” Then we all busted up laughing.

So if you want to make your own goofy family memories, consider a road trip, particularly consider the Western United States. I remember driving through the amazing red rocks of Colorado in the Garden of the Gods.

I just recently saw an article about the Air Force Academy Chapel that showed this ethereal building pictured below. Doesn’t it look like the architects took some of their inspiration from the nearby red rocks?

I’ve never seen this building but now have it on my list of places to visit. I’m not sure I’d have know it was a chapel from the outside, but the interior view certainly feels like a worship space.

So take some time this summer, plan for some aggravation and get in the car and drive. You’ll be mostly glad you did.