Sometimes we do things that leave everyone, including ourselves, scratching their heads.

Nine years later, my mom still can’t explain why she allowed me and two of my closest friends to drive her minivan across the country to see a concert.

Sure it’s been nearly a decade since two friends and I drove from Columbus, Ohio to Denver, Colorado to see a Bob Dylan concert, but that doesn’t mean she has stopped scratching her head.

Knowing myself and the two friends who traveled with me, I too can’t explain her decision.

Compared to some, my friends and I were relatively responsible and could be, at times, mature.

I think what won her over was the fact that we planned to leave at 5 p.m. Friday evening, see the show Saturday night and drive back Sunday night so that none of us would miss a minute of work before or after the show.

That’s not a bad plan if it’s a reasonable drive, but when the destination is 20 hours one way, that becomes a different story.

Since I am writing this column, you many have already guessed we survived the journey. And surprisingly, so did the van.

Twenty-five hundred miles in three days is a lot for a vehicle – but the Green Machine performed admirably.

Before departing for the concert, we removed one bench chair and one solo chair from the back of the van so there would be space for one of us to sleep – because you know, that is safe at 70 miles-an-hour.

We had it all worked out – one of us would drive, a second would navigate and the third would lay in the floorboards and try to get some shuteye.

After our return, there were questions surrounding the trip that had us – as well as my mother – scratching our heads.

Why didn’t we stop for longer than 30 minutes to sleep on our drive to Denver?

Why did we actually stop at the place claiming to have the world’s largest prairie dog?

Why would someone live in Kansas?

But mainly, why did she ever think this was a good idea?

All these years later, my friends and I agree this trip was among the best ideas we’ve ever had. Luckily, it coincided with one of the worst ideas my mom has ever had.

Like that trip, sometimes life takes unexpected turns, but we always seem to end up right where we belong.

The van is still in one piece, my friends and I weren’t arrested or injured because of some stupid decision, so maybe it wasn’t said a head-scratching blunder after all.

Jay Sowers is photo editor of Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at jay@gulfcoastmedia.com.