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Sunday, August 2, 2026

Can I Rise Above This? Can I Get Through It - A Song of Hope

Can I Rise Above This? Can I Get Through It - A Song of Hope

I've always enjoyed writing lyrics about life because life gives us an endless supply of stories to tell. Some are happy, some are heartbreaking, and some leave us asking questions we never thought we'd have to answer. 

I like exploring all of those different parts of the human experience because no two journeys are ever the same. Sometimes my songs are about family or relationships, sometimes they're about loss or hope, and sometimes they're simply about finding the strength to keep moving forward. 

Believe in My Wings came from one of those moments. It grew out of a question I think most of us have quietly asked ourselves at some point: When life gets difficult, will I be able to rise above it?

A Simple Thought That Grew Into a Story

The idea for this song began with a familiar metaphor about a bird trusting its wings instead of the branch beneath it. That image has appeared in many different forms over the years, yet its meaning has always remained powerful. Rather than writing about the saying itself, I wanted to explore what it represents on a deeper level. I wanted to imagine what that quiet confidence might look like if it became a story instead of a quotation.

Nature has a way of teaching us lessons without ever speaking a word. We can watch a bird settle onto a branch, and while we'll never truly know what it experiences, we can observe something remarkable. It doesn't appear consumed by the possibility that the branch might fail. It rests when it needs to rest, and when the time comes, it spreads its wings and flies. That simple picture has stayed with me because it reminds me how often fear encourages us to focus on what could collapse beneath us, while courage asks us to remember the strength we already possess.

Life gives each of us our own version of an unsteady branch. It might be the loss of someone we love, a health challenge, financial uncertainty, disappointment, loneliness, anxiety, or simply stepping into a future that feels completely unknown. None of us can predict every storm that will come our way. What we can choose is how we respond when those moments arrive.

Finding the Wings Within Ourselves

That became the heart of Believe in My Wings. For me, it's a song about the balance between fear and faith. There isn't one survival path that fits everyone; however, just the belief that we can overcome can help pave the road to getting there. Sometimes resilience grows through experience. Sometimes it comes from the encouragement of those who believe in us. Sometimes it appears so quietly that we don't even realize how strong we've become until we look back.

As I wrote the lyrics, I kept returning to the same thought. Every verse and every chorus seemed to ask the same question: Do I stay frozen by the storm, or do I trust that I have what it takes to move through it? That question isn't limited to one situation. It belongs to anyone facing uncertainty, whether the challenge is visible to the world or carried silently inside.

Perhaps that's why this song became so meaningful to me while I was writing it. It reminded me that our circumstances are only one part of the story. They may shake us, test us, or force us to rethink the path ahead, but they don't define what we're capable of becoming. 

The branch beneath us may change without warning, but our greatest source of strength has never been the branch itself. It has always been the wings we carry within us, waiting for the moment we decide to trust them.

Thank you for listening; I really appreciate it. 

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"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

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**I write and produce story-driven lyrics. ** ** Vocals and music are digitally produced (I am not the singer). I digitally direct and arrange the video and recording. ©2026 DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - All Rights Reserved. Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held). I wrote, created, and produced this piece on June 21st, 2026 - Member of SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)**

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Route 66 Centennial - The Beginning

There is a legendary highway in the United States known as the “Mother Road”. It was established in 1926 and stretches 2,448 miles from its beginning in Chicago, Illinois to its end at the Santa Monica Pier in Southern California. This iconic highway is best known as “Route 66”. 


Route 66 - "The Mother Road"


This highway was built to serve as a primary route for westward migration and tourism. While officially decommissioned in 1985,  its popularity continues as a popular route for tourists and visitors. 

Now, in 2026, we are celebrating the route’s Centennial, with events and celebrations occurring throughout the eight states Route 66 covers. The celebrations include local town festivals, museum exhibitions and many other events.

This page is the beginning, with the middle and the end to follow in subsequent pages.


Route 66 Centennial - The Beginning

Illinois, Missouri, Kansas


The beginning of Route 66 - Illinois, Missouri, Kansas


Driving the first three states of Historic Route 66 takes you from the bustling streets of Chicago through the rolling Ozarks of Missouri, and into the brief but beautifully preserved vintage stretch of Kansas.

The original beginning of Route 66 was at Jackson Boulevard and Michigan Avenue, right by Grant Park. Now, in 2026, the Centennial celebration for Route 66 has designated the Navy Pier as Chicago’s Pier-to-Pier Start, a symbolic launch point for Route 66's 100th anniversary. The extension creates a scenic "pier-to-pier" journey linking Lake Michigan directly to California's Santa Monica Pier.


ILLINOIS - 301 Miles - Historic Points


Iconic restaurant  on Route 66
Iconic restaurant on Route 66

Illinois has many points of interest along Route 66. They include the historic Old Log Cabin Inn in Pontiac, which is one of the oldest continually operating restaurants  on the Mother Road.

Pontiac also has the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum which features classic cars, memorabilia, and the largest collection of Route 66 artifacts in the country. It is listed on the National  Register of Historic Places.

The Gemini Giant at Wilmington, IL is a famous 30-foot-tall fiberglass "Muffler Man" in a space suit, a much photographed statue on the road.

Springfield, Illinois has the Shea’s Gas Station Museum, offering a massive collection of vintage neon signs and petroliana.

Classic highway memorabilia, along with old VW bugs, can be seen at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch (along with real rabbits!). 


MISSOURI - 317 Miles - Iconic Points on Route 66


Chain of Rocks Bridge
Chain of Rocks Bridge

Historic Route 66 leaves Illinois and enters Missouri by crossing the Mississippi River. The iconic crossing for the Mother Road is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which connects Madison, Illinois, directly to the northern edge of St. Louis, Missouri.

Residents of St. Louis, Missouri regularly travel along portions of Route 66 in their daily commutes as it passes through the city.

Missouri has often been called the "Birthplace of Route 66" because its official name was conceived in Springfield in 1926. There are multiple places to visit along this iconic highway, including the historic Ozark attractions,the Meramec Caverns in Stanton and the Wagon wheel Motel in Cuba, MO, which is the oldest continuously operating motel on Route 66. 


KANSAS - 13 Miles - Short, But With Much to See


Eisler's in Riverton, Kansas
Eisler's in Riverton, Kansas

Kansas has just a tiny portion of Route 66, just 13 miles long ~ the shortest route of the eight states. It stretches across the SE corner of Cherokee County.  While short, there is a must-see stop in Galena where you will find a restored 1923 Kan-O-Tex service station featuring the International Harvester boom truck that inspired the character "Mater" from Disney's Cars. 


You can also stop by the Old Riverton Store (established in 1925), known as one of the longest continuously operating grocery stores on the entire route, or check out the Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum to dive into local history and outlaw lore.


Summary


Route 66 Beginning - Navy Pier, Chicago

From The Navy Pier (beginning) in Chicago, Route 66 travels through Illinois, Missouri and a short stretch of Kansas. Continue your journey along “The Main Street of America” with the links below. 


Related Links:


  • Celebrating the Centennial of Route 66 - The Middle Part
  • The End-of-the-Road on Route 66

*Part 1 of the Route 66 Centennial story was written and compiled by Wednesday Elf (July, 2026)


Travel Guides to Route 66 in Illinois, Missouri & Kansas:



Route 66: Centennial Travel Guide to the Mother RoadRoute 66: Centennial Travel Guide to the Mother RoadCheck PriceIllinois Bucket List: Explore 150 Epic AdventuresIllinois Bucket List: Explore 150 Epic AdventuresCheck PriceRoute 66 - 30 Points of Interest in MISSOURI and KANSASRoute 66 - 30 Points of Interest in MISSOURI and KANSASCheck PriceRoute 66 in Kansas (Images of America)Route 66 in Kansas (Images of America)Check Price

 

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