Welcome to the American Story.

Stories about what it is that makes America beautiful.

Heartbreaking, funny, inspiring, and endlessly interesting.

This is Chris Flannery with the Cramoni. inspiring and endlessly interesting.

This is Chris Flannery with the Kramon Institute.

I call this one one for the road.

I had taken a wrong turn.

So I leaned back and said to her,

What was the name of that street again?

Road, she said.

What? Not Street. Road. And that's when it dawned on me that I was a city boy and sitting

behind me on my old motorcycle was a country girl, and we were in the country.

Streets and roads are very different animals.

For good reasons, Willie Nelson saying, I just can't wait to get on the road again.

He looked forward to go in places that he'd never been, and seeing things he may never see again. On the road is freedom and adventure, exploration,

independence, surprise. The boss isn't looking over your shoulder,

you're not counting minutes or doing chores. The road stretches the head out of sight under big skies into unpredictable discoveries.

The road stretches the head out of sight under big skies into unpredictable discoveries.

Wide open spaces spread on every side and beckon over every horizon.

You're on your own and breathe in easy.

And if someone is beside you breathe in easy,

you're apt to break into song?

...