Molly Pitcher is NOT the name of the redhead with me in this cover photo, but she is the only other person I know who’s excited that Molly Pitcher got a facelift.
Molly Pitcher is the name of my go-to rest stop on the southbound side of the New Jersey Turnpike. It’s the one I always use on my way back home to Pennsylvania from New York, which means I know exactly how many steps it is from the front door to bathroom stall. (If you have urgency issues like me, you’d understand).
Last Saturday, I drove to Long Island to celebrate my faux-niece’s (aka, my sister’s godchild/best friend’s daughter’s) bridal shower. A few hours later, I drove back home to Pennsylvania by way of the Jersey Turnpike, and that solo drive is the inspiration for this week’s blog post.
About an hour into the drive home Saturday night, I needed to pee (as expected). So I did what I always do; I stopped to use the bathroom at the Molly Pitcher rest stop.
Imagine my surprise when I rolled up to find that Molly had a (much-needed) facelift. While it meant that my step count was off, the renovations were worth it (and, thankfully, I did not wet my pants looking for the new bathroom location).
I’d venture a guess that most people don’t know the names of the rest stops along major roadways, and probably even fewer can say they have a favorite bathroom stop. But ‘most people’ doesn’t include my friend, Kerry, which is why it makes complete sense that I texted her those exact words — “Molly Pitcher got a facelift” — without any other explanation and she immediately understood.
Kerry is one of my college roommates and bestest best friends. She’s also a Pennsylvania native who is equally familiar with the ins and outs — and best/worst rest stops — of the Jersey Turnpike. Among other things, we agree that Molly Pitcher on the southbound side and Grover Cleveland on the northbound side are the best that Jersey has to offer … At least until the other rest stops are renovated. Then, our allegiances may shift. It’s too soon to tell.
But the best part of Molly Pitcher’s facelift? Texting that single line prompted a phone call from Kerry that kept me company — and kept me laughing — while I drove the rest of the way home.
I’ve written before about how I’m not a fan of long car rides — and by ‘long’ I mean anything over 45 minutes. Unfortunately, most of my favorite people live far away, so I’m forced to drive anywhere from 3-7 hours to see them. It’s a labor of love that I do with only a moderate amount of kvetching most of the time.
And while I don’t usually enjoy long car rides, long solo rides do have there up sides. I first wrote about this back in 2015, and you know what? After rereading that post, it holds up. Every word. I even praised Molly Pitcher back then.
“Because I drink tons of water and have a small bladder, I am intimately familiar with every rest stop along the NJ Turnpike. The “Molly Pitcher” stop should probably be renamed for me.”
— Heaven and Hell and The Jersey Turnpike on midlifemoxieandmuscle.com, July 18, 2015
Passing the time talking to girlfriends while I drive, especially ones I don’t see as often as I’d like, makes my heart happy. So while I don’t love a long car ride, I do love the little joys it provides, like calling girlfriends, blasting ’90s hip hop, and singing at the top of my lungs without anyone cringing or judging me. Having a clean, modern place to pee is just an added bonus.
They say life is all about perspective. It’s also about the little things. Molly Pitcher reminded me of that.
Thank you, Kerry, for keeping me company and appreciating Molly’s facelift. And thank you, Bitsy, for including me in your special day and giving me an opportunity to spend quality time with family — another bonus in the long drive journey.
— LJDT
