Pavement Is Forever!
About the Author
Ben spends most of his time working with underprivileged kids in Tijuana, Mexico, encouraging them to continue their education. He's an unofficial member of Iglesia Bautista Monte Horeb, which runs the elementary school, Centro Pedagógico Didaque.
Or so goes the environmental saying of a coupla decades ago. Just north of the border, new freeways and widened boulevards are usually frowned upon. Strip malls are highly scrutinized, and housing developments encroaching forests are even worse.
As you might imagine, it’s different here. I love paved roads. In fact, I’ll drive out of my way to take the smoother route. The rose-colored-glasses idea of driving around in the pickup truck on dirt roads wore off after the first week here. Mud on the carpet and a daily dash mat of dust…? Not too exciting anymore. Not to mention the mechanical toll on one’s vehicle. Monthly air filter replacement and monthly flat tires. Straight-as-she-goes steering? Forgotten. And man!—everything squeaks. So, down here, at least, I love pavement. Don’t get me wrong, however—some paved roads have potholes like pepperoni pizza.
All that said, I’m feeling a little guilty. Two minutes ago I hung up the phone with the school principal. I worked from home today catching up on Quicken, so I decided to check in before tomorrow’s school day. The principal said: “You won’t believe it!” “What happened?” I replied. “They’re paving the road all the way up to the school!” she exclaimed, almost giddy. What an unexpected blessing.
The school (and also church) is appropriately named Mount Horeb for its location on top of a hill. When it rains, the route is treacherous—spinnin’ the tires to get up and e-braking to get down. Even without rain the ride rocks passengers back and forth like a pendulum.
Fifteen to twenty years ago when the Gollings family began the church, there was no pavement in sight for at least five miles. When I arrived a few years ago, the government had finally paved the main road down below the hill, but none going up. But now…sounds like it’s going to be easy street. My pickupcito will love the smoother climb, but I feel a little guilty. The outback is turning civic.