The Beginning of a Family Adventure
I don’t know if the mother was excited or simply gave in to the anguish of not wanting to argue, but the fact is that she agreed to embark on this new adventure. Before lunch, we had already left the village behind.
A notebook to record memories
At only six years old and younger than my sister Lina, I took a notebook that I was allowed to carry. There, I began to write down everything that I did not dare to express out loud. ‘Where are we going, exactly?’ It was the first sentence I wrote.
Learning on the Way
Mother and Lina dedicated themselves to teaching me to read and write during those long road trips. The father, while driving, always said: ‘I can’t help, I have to concentrate on the route’.
A Journey That Never Ends
On December 31, 1990, Dad ushered us into his red R5, a vehicle that would become our travel companion. I remember that date, as it was Lina’s ninth birthday. Father told us that it would be a memorable celebration, but over time I understood that the memory would be endless, not because of the party, but because of the experience of traveling.
A Journey Through Time
Over the years, the R5 was overtaken by more modern vehicles that look like they came out of sci-fi movies. Our journeys have become lonelier as it is increasingly difficult to find cassette tapes at gas stations. In our early years of travel, we stopped to watch movies, but the curious looks from others made us feel out of place, so Dad decided to tell us about his movie experiences.
The Father’s Role in the Journey
Now, the stops are just for a bathroom break and filling up the tank. Dad used to tell the gas station workers that we are ‘discovering the world’. As we have grown, we have traveled to several countries, but the routine of observing the world from the car window is beginning to weigh.
The Desire to Know New Realities
I would like to connect with people my age and explore the towns beyond their rooftops. I haven’t sent letters to my friends for a long time, since we can’t find any postcards or stamps.
The Change in the Journey
The father has begun to show signs of fatigue, a concern that has grown recently. It worries me to think that maybe one day he will stop seeing the road in front of him, and both Lina and I already have to make an effort not to touch the roof of the car.
A Step Forward
With all of this in mind, I’ve decided it’s time to make a change. I have suggested to the family the idea of swapping places, that they sit in the back and us in the front, to learn to drive. The mother, hearing my proposal, quickly turned to the father, who responded by turning up the volume of the radio.