Be patient, and be strong on your Thanksgiving trips

In the 19th century, American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once penned, “Patience and fortitude conquer all things.” He obviously hadn’t envisioned the frenzied labyrinth of holiday travel in 21st-century America. Yes, Virginia, it’s that time of year once again when tens of millions of Americans must rely on supersized doses of patience and fortitude to endure the annoyances of high gas prices, potentially long airport delays, clogged interstates and a hodgepodge of other hazards synonymous with Thanksgiving transit.

We’ve put up with those pains before. But this year, experts warn us, conditions will worsen on some fronts.

Consider the cost of gasoline. The American Automobile Association reported Thursday that the average price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the U.S. for next week’s Thanksgiving trips will be $3.23. During the holiday travel blitz of 2006, that price weighed in 95 cents less.

Highway safety officials, however, remind us of numerous ways we can lessen that pain. Travelers can use the free www.Fuelcostcalculator.com Web site to get an estimate of how much money they will be spending on gas during their trip. Also, AAA.com now provides the locations and prices for more than 100,000 gas stations in the U.S. so long distance travelers can know in advance where to find the cheapest fuel along their route

Of course, drivers should also exercise ommon-sense strategies to ensure a safe arrival at Grandma’s , including driving at non-peak hours, resisting temptations to tailgate, wearing seat belts and paying close attention to snow and ice.

Bush to the rescue

For those estimated 4.7 million Americans who have chosen airlines as their travel mode of choice, President Bush has done his part to try to lessen your pain. Bush on Thursday ordered a series of actions designed to reduce air traffic congestion and long delays that have left passengers stranded.

The most significant change is that the Pentagon will open unused military airspace from Florida to Maine to create “a Thanksgiving express lane” for commercial airliners. Our only hope is that the measures have been thoroughly tested to ensure that they do not create even more confusion and delays for fliers.

Despite the potential troubles, the AAA estimates that 38.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 1.5 percent increase from last year’s 38.1 million travelers. And on the costs front, all is not gloom and doom. Airlines, hotels and car rentals are all expected to cost Americans less in 2007 than last year, the AAA reports.

Most encouraging and heartwarming though is the knowledge that most Americans aren’t going to let higher gas prices and travel angst get in the way of continuing a proud tradition of reuniting with family to enjoy a bountiful feast and to give thanks. By mustering up a little extra patience and fortitude, Americans can still enjoy the holiday and carry on a proud national tradition.