two hundred fifty four

THE STRAIGHT STORY

by David Lynch

This is a quirky story about a man taking an epic journey using an unusual form of transportation, sound familiar?

A retired farmer and widower in his 70s, Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) learns one day that his distant brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton) has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver's license. Then he hits on the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey.

In 1999 this movie quietly came out. It didn't stand out or win any awards so I missed it for years perhaps you have too. It is for rent on Amazon, it is worth a watch. I have not found a better movie to capture the spirit of loaded bicycle touring. 

There is a great story line of family and redemption that is heart warming I won't spoil it for you. My focus is on his journey. 

He was a bull headed man who was limited by age and the wear and tare on his body from a life of hard work. I could relate to being bull headed and having a well worn body myself but I refuse to be limited. His circumstances forced him to use a very unconventional form of travel. It was slow, unpredictable and dangerous. 

His interactions with the people he met along the way, battling the stress of the trip and a dangerous break down are very familiar to me. 

The movie reveals the nature of first time last time conversations. As you travel from town to town you meet strangers. Most interactions are friendly but sometimes they can be very  open and honest and often they become intimate and personal. Sooner or later you both move on, never to see one another again. The nature of this type of interaction is that it is no risk, talking truthfully is easy.

I have been changed by these conversations and I believe others have been changed too. This human to human thing kind of works that way. It is simple I just try to break down walls by risking showing my heart first. I'm amazed how the most uptight people respond.

The curiosity, unlikely interactions and the kindness of strangers are the reasons I love the people of this great country. I have had some very profound conversations where two complete strangers shared a moment of kindness, respect and closeness. I hold many of those moments close to my heart and think of them when the world seems a little ugly.