a scenic view of a mountain range with a river in the foreground

Had it not been for road construction, I'd have taken a straighter highway. Had I not checked my rearview mirror, I'd have missed this breath-taking view. Had the road been more traveled, I'd have stayed the course to avoid risk. Instead, I parked on the roadside, camera in hand, and searched for best angles. My sleeping teenager grumbled, so I took the shot, started the car, and drove on. As I rounded some curves, the vista leveled and the earth turned dusty shades of gray. When I look at this memory, I am abundantly grateful.