The Detour by Madelyn Shields



Karen was about ten so that would have made me eight year old when Daddy decide to take us to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We lived in Jackson, Michigan, so that was quite a trek for us in those days. There were no interstate highways as we know them; only State Highways...two lane...narrow two lane highways.

As we traveled we would read all the signs painted on barns, like "Get right with God," or "Jesus is coming ARE YOU READY?" and then there were the Burma Shave signs along the way that would  say,                                                         
If your peach
Stays out of reach
Better practice
What you preach
 Burma Shave


We loved watching for these signs that advertised Burma Shave. Daddy would always read them and chuckle and Karen and I would clap our hands and bounce up and down in our seats. Now remember, this was long before seat belts and air conditioners. The windows would be down with the wind blowing in the car but our hair stayed right where is was because Mother would always make us the tightest french braids anyone could ever imagine.

Up highway US 50 we went. When we got to the Saute Saint Marie Straits we would drive onto a ferry and float across the straits to the Upper Peninsula. It was so exciting. The belly of the ship would be full of cars, buses, and trucks. When they gave the signal we would get out of the car and go up on deck and walk around the huge boat. I would get so excited! Then when we arrived on the other side they would tell us to get in our cars and we would drive out onto the Upper Peninsula...Just like that!

So as we traveled along we would sing or just ride but we would have a great time. Then It happened; "THE DETOUR."  An enormous yellow sign was stretched across the road stating in bold letters, Detour! Daddy was instantly furious. He looked at Mother and said, "Helen, you know that that road is not that bad that they should hang a sign that big. They are just trying to keep traffic from driving on that road!" Well, where they placed the sign there was concrete...two lanes of it.

So Daddy says, "Helen, I 'm going to drive on that road. I don't see any construction work going on." So here we go around that humongous detour sign that stretched all the way across the two lane highway. Sure enough, we drove along and there was road under the wheels of our Packard.

 Daddy was smiling like "see I told you so!" when all of a sudden the car went THUD  and we sunk in sand nearly up to the doors. Now if Daddy would have been a cussing man its hard telling what he would have said; but he didn't believe in using Gee and Darn and Golly. He very dramatically pounded the steering wheel and was MAD! We all were very quiet until the storm subsided.

He finally opened the door and got out, looking at the sunk automobile. That big, old long Packard was just plain stuck in the sand. There was nothing he could do but walk back and try to find some help. After sitting there an eternity a wrecker pulled us out backwards.

Now whether Daddy ever learned a lesson or not, I don't know, but I did. To this day, I believe a detour sign when I see one.

Mother and Daddy
Helen and Gus Anderson 

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 19, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    Love it! I could see it happening.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Madelyn ShieldsJune 19, 2012 at 6:12 PM

    Thanks Freda. My Dad was quite a man. He has been gone over 40 years but I remember him like it was yesterday.

    ReplyDelete

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