Rest stop

The 1-95 corridor is probably the most heavily traveled stretch of road in the United States, and never more so than on a Saturday in the summer or during the holidays. From Maine to Florida and back, people are on the road, for a few miles or hundreds of miles. 95 on a Saturday is not for the faint of heart. You need to know where you’re going and what you’re doing. You need to be on top of your Ps and Qs. 

In Maryland, there are several rest stops on 95; or rather, travel plazas. They are called travel plazas now. The Maryland House and the Chesapeake House travel plazas are located right smack in the middle of 95, accessible via left exits to both northbound and southbound travelers. The plazas and the buildings are large and clean and well-maintained and offer everything that a road traveler would need - bathrooms, food, gas, silly souvenirs, and even massage chairs, which I wouldn’t touch without alcohol wipes but to each his own. 

A travel plaza in the middle of December is a rather exciting place to be. People are traveling to see family for Christmas, college students are returning home for winter break - the Maryland House is a hub of happy buzzy energy. There’s no better place to watch people and see how they present themselves. 

Most people stay casual for a road trip, but there’s more than one kind of casual. There is truly carefree casual, a person who just gets up, puts on some sporty or slouchy clothing, pulls back their hair or puts on a hat, and then goes, grabbing whatever jacket and bag are hanging on the hook nearest the door before they hit the road. And then there are the others, who appear to be casual in dress and demeanor, but their casualness is of the well-thought-out and carefully considered variety. 

This morning, I was just meeting my brother, who was picking up my mom to take her back home to Philadelphia after a week with me. We texted, only half joking, that we hoped that no one would witness the old lady handover and report us for human trafficking. Since I was only dropping off and returning home, I was genuinely casual, but when I’m taking an actual trip, road or otherwise, I plan my casual look very carefully, down to the jacket and bag (which are the most important elements, of course). And I could tell, just by looking, who else had done the same before heading out on the road that morning.

I saw a young woman (mid 30s, maybe) in jeans and a cashmere pullover hoodie (the one that keeps chasing people all over the internet) with boots and a short puffer jacket and a Le Pliage, and I imagined her planning her travel look with some care, thinking about which outfit would be most comfortable and appropriate for a road trip with rest stops, and would look nicest when she reached her destination. She planned well, actually. She looked both genuinely comfortable and genuinely stylish and nice. I also saw a mother-daughter duo in somewhat matching outfits, Lululemon leggings and North Face fleece jackets and Ugg-style boots. The mother was young, maybe about 40, and very fit. Her clothes fit perfectly and her hair was shiny and straight. Her hands were flawlessly manicured and she wore a touch of makeup - nothing garish, just a bit of pale lipstick and some mascara. Her casual look was the work of at least an hour. Her daughter, who wore nearly the same thing, looked slightly rumpled, with an oversized jacket and a messy ponytail and a clean-scrubbed face. Both women looked beautiful and road-trip appropriate. I saw hundreds of other people dressed in casual and loungewear both basic and fancy and almost all of them had put some thought or effort into their road trip look. I wished a safe and happy journey for all of them. 

*****

Tomorrow, I’ll be back on 95 heading north toward Philadelphia for a quick overnight visit with my family. I’ve already planned the carefully considered casual outfit that I will wear for the ride. This year, I don’t really feel like visiting family - I would rather stay home and enjoy my younger son’s very short stay at home before he has to return to campus for winter training. But I am looking forward to the drive. It’s fun to dress for a road trip, especially when you have exactly the right outfit. It’s fun to pack an overnight bag and I’m determined to pack only what I need because I know that we’ll be coming home with Christmas presents and because I want to carry only one tote bag and one handbag. It’s fun to listen to Christmas music on the radio, and to stop for a coffee midway through the trip, even though it’s a less than three-hour drive. I’m looking forward to seeing fellow travelers at the Maryland House or maybe the Bel Air Wawa. It’ll be fun to see what everyone’s wearing.