Does that sound like a goofy idea? Not too many years back, it was fairly common for a family in McHenry to drive somewhere with a blanket and a picnic basket for a Sunday outing. The biggest difference today is that most families would go in an SUV where, in years gone by, they would have gone in the family stationwagon.

It was a customary Sunday afternoon event, though it sometimes happened on Saturday. It was something people did on holidays, too, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and the 4th of July.

It was relaxing. It was an event that reinforced the bond within the family while filling their lungs with fresh air.

The picnic basket, or cooler, might have sandwiches. It might have cold chicken. It would certainly have potato salad and, you never know, it might have some apple pie or peach cobbler.

There weren’t any televisions, cell phones or laptop computers folks could use to isolate from the family while all together. The family would entertain itself with talk. The children would run and play. They might play catch, or tag, or kick the can. They would have a good time without electronic ‘enhancements.’

By the time they got home, the kids were all tuckered out. Mom and dad would carry them in from the car and tuck them into their beds.

Such excursions might take them to a public forest preserve, such as Glacial Park Conservation Area, or Rush Creek. They might go to Moraine Hills State Park, previously known as McHenry Dam State Park. They might go to Petersen Park Beach. Some might even go further afield, for instance, driving up to a park in Wisconsin.

Wherever they went, any problem with their vehicle could put a serious damper on the occasion. Flat tires, overheating, cars that won’t start – these were some of the more common problems that might disrupt the day. More serious mechanical problems were those folks didn’t like to contemplate.

Whether you’re going out for a picnic, or driving to work, when you pull out of your McHenry driveway, you want to have confidence that your vehicle, whether an old stationwagon or a new SUV, will get you there and back without problems. The only way to seriously reduce the risks of a mechanical breakdown is to stay on top of repairs and maintenance to your vehicle.

Stay up to date on oil changes. Have your cooling system checked. Periodically check the air pressure in your tires. Knowing your vehicle has reliability going for it is comforting. And if you haven’t taken the family for a picnic in a while, that has the potential to be comforting, too.