My Souvenirs From All Eight States of Route 66

Route 66, the old highway from Chicago to the Pacific, turns 100 this year. It runs through eight states, and towns along the way are holding birthday parties all year, starting with Illinois in April. I drove the whole road and did some shopping.

My Souvenirs

1. Illinois. A sign that says “Begin Route 66.” So I began.
2. Missouri. A postcard from Springfield, which calls itself the road’s birthplace. I mailed it to myself, to celebrate.
3. Kansas. Kansas has the shortest stretch of the road, so I bought the smallest souvenir: a keychain.
4. Oklahoma. A cowboy hat. I’ve worn it ever since.
5. Texas. A steak dinner. The souvenir is the memory.
6. New Mexico. A rock. The man said it was a meteorite. It came from his yard.
7. Arizona. A snow globe of the desert. You shake it, and nothing happens. Very accurate.
8. California. A jar of sand from the very last beach.

The Trip Home

The road’s famous finish is the pier in Santa Monica. I stood there with my hat, my rock and my keychain, looking out at the Pacific. It was gorgeous. It was also the end of the road, so I turned around.

My car is now full. The hat has the passenger seat, the rock has the back, and the snow globe is wearing a seatbelt. On the way home I’ll pass through all eight states again, and I’m told it would be rude not to buy something.