The old road may have had a song written about it plus a television show from the early 1960's, but the passage of time finally had its say and Route 66 was decommissioned as a major highway in 1985. Luckily, several states have preserved portions of the road that are popular tourist attractions and there are those who take Route 66 vacations along the various portions that still exist. Sure, the interstates are faster and safer but do they have the romance of the old highway? I don’t think so. At the closing of Route 66 in the 1980's, noted CBS newsman Charles Kuralt stated that, "Now you can travel across the entire country and not see anything." I agree. (Do you have memories of Route 66? Tell me about them at azjimmcallister@cox.net.