Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Vicki's Vacation Memories with her Venturesome Mom and Their Vehicles: A to Z Blogging Challenge

Debonair Mom!
Every summer, since both my Mother and I followed the school holiday schedule (she was a school social worker), we would take off  in one of the cardinal directions to visit family and friends.  I remember a red Ford station wagon in the 50's,  a blue Rambler wagon in the 60's, and later, a white Rambler Marlin with red interior that Mom let me choose from the used car lot!  Heading out west we would camp along the way.  Any other trip we would stay a night in a motel.
Me next to our red Ford StationWagon

One such accommodation reminded me of the Bates Motel in Psycho (which I watched as a child with my best friend one night).  I timidly checked behind the shower curtain, and was relieved to find it clean and empty.  Even so, I was a bit uneasy during our stay. We left without incident, and headed towards our destination.  

We would stop often to take a break, and ended up many times at Stuckey's (we never did figure out if the u was short or long).  There we enjoyed all things pecan; my favorite being pecan pie.   I remember a shop with all sorts of souvenirs; ash trays, toothpick holders, diaries...all stamped with the state we were traveling through.  Then there were the pecan goodies...pies, tarts, brittle, and candies.

Our trip to from Chicago to Alaska one summer was memorable, not just because of the distance, but because of the fact that my Mom, in her late 50's now, took a friend along to help with the driving.  Nothing unusual about that, except her friend Alvina, had a broken leg. Thankfully, it was her left, so, we were okay, but Mom did most of the driving.
Mom and Me with Uncle Sam in Alaska

Well, for awhile anyway, until the return trip. We headed down the AlCan Highway, which just happened to be under construction that summer.  I don't know if she wasn't paying attention to the road, or lost control, but Alvina drove our red Ford station wagon over the boulders heaped up in the median strip, ripping out the entire underside of the vehicle.  Somehow, out of nowhere, a semi came into view, and ended up rescuing us.  What an adventure it was for me to sit in the upper bunk of the 18 wheeler as we drove to our lodgings for the night!  A missionary family, the Crabbs, whom my mother had contacted in our plight, took us in for the night. We ended up staying with them while our car was being repaired.


Mom, Me (on left) and NY family
In my early childhood, we had an ugly army green Hudson that crawled up the curb and hit a light post with myself and my cousins from NY crammed inside.  It seemed that Mom was distracted with something, and didn't notice that one of us was sitting on the shift, and it had launched the car into the drive position.  No injuries, just a bit shaken that's all!

Mom loved to be on the go...she drove on the interstate, down country roads, and through fog up in the Rocky Mountains at night.  One summer we drove through Yellowstone National Park, and as a large black bear approached the car, I screamed, "Shut the window, shut the window"!   She calmly passed it by and moved on...Mom was invincible!

Mom traveled to Europe in her early teens with her own mother, and then later, with me in my early teens.  It seemed like a right of passage.  I didn't want to go to Europe.  I wanted to stay at home with my friends.  But, what an experience and education I had...I wouldn't trade it for anything!

We visited family in Bratislava during the summer of 1968.  I remember feeling the tension in Czechoslovakia, something in the air. I was afraid for some reason that we would be stuck in the country, and my worst fears were realized.   At the border, on our way out, we were detained by the Communist guards because we did not have the correct papers.  I sat down and cried, "I told you so!", as Mom deftly but firmly negotiated with them.  She had no fear and no foes...only the desire to turn wrongs to right.

Thankfully, her Slovak cousin, John, a communist sympathizer (only to keep his job), vouched for us, so they let us go.  A week later, sitting in Wimpy's burger restaurant  somewhere in London, Mom opened the newspaper, only to discover that the Russians had invaded Czechoslovakia.  We escaped none too soon!

Every four years, we would take a trip to the World's Fair... first Seattle, then, New York, Montreal and finally, New Orleans, which were spread throughout my childhood summers.  Mom took reel after reel of Super 8 movies, but, unfortunately, she moved the camera so fast, that we became car sick reviewing it.  Add to that her penchant for cutting heads off in the process and you get the picture...not much quality footage, but an awful lot to laugh about! 
Mom and I in the 90's...she lived almost to 100!

One year we took the Santa Fe railroad from Chicago to California, where we had visited neighbors who had moved west a few years before.  I vaguely remembered our trip, but did enjoy the challenge of walking from train to train, across the gap between the cars.  Here, too, Mom filmed the rolling countryside with her movie camera, scanning the scene instead of holding the camera steady.  What resulted was enough to make one cross-eyed!

What adventures we had!  Now I continue the tradition with my family.  This blog is a tribute to the wonderful trips we have taken together.

What family vacations are memorable to you?  Do you have a "dream vacation" yet to plan?

18 comments:

  1. Vicki, I really enjoyed this window into your childhood. You've really had some memorable adventures. Your Stuckey's visits reminded me of our family vacations down to Florida each year and how we looked forward to getting a pecan roll each time! Taking a family of 6 on vacation can be pricey, so we'll go camping for a break from the every day routine. My boys wouldn't have it any other way. They'd much rather explore in a wooded creek than romp on a beach in Hawaii (although I wouldn't mind!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Camping is such a good way for a family with boys to enjoy a vacation...you are making memories, too, Daisy! Glad you appreciated a look into my childhood...I treasure them.

      Delete
  2. Sadly, my family never took vacations. Sounds like you have lots of great memories from yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's never too late to begin your own adventures. Start small, and you will be amazed what you discover!

      Delete
  3. Thank you for visiting my blog and for your wonderful comment. Writing about the past is therapy. I'm your newest follower. Happy Blogging!

    A Ladybug's Life

    Sonnia

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are welcome, Sonnia....yes, writing about the past keeps my Mother's memory alive in my heart. Welcome aboard, and thanks for following!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We never took vacations per se, but we took weekend trips to Connecticut or Vermont. Mt dad never seemed to get a vacation. My mom would take me and my brother to all the NYC sites, like the statue of liberty or empire state bldg. We went to Jones beach in the summer a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Northeast is my favorite region of the States, Anthony! It doesn't matter where you go...it's being together as a family that counts. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  6. Jarm, thank you for your comments on my post Unacceptable. I agree with everything you said. You blessed my day. gail

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome, Gail...I'm glad I was an encouragement to you today!

      Delete
  7. This was wonderful to read! So enjoyed your memories. Our first family trip (family being Mum, Dad, and me) was to Yellowstone when I was 8 1/2. My favorite memories of that trip were of playing with other kids in the motel swimming pool in Helena, Montana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Beth for taking the time to read about my childhood adventures! So...you are an only child too?! We really had the royal treatment, didn't we? Travel was one of the best things that happened to me during my youth. I am blessed!

      Delete
  8. Great lookin into your past! What fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit to my post...thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  9. This brings back some memories for me. We had a blue Rambler wagon in the late 60s. When I was growing up we had a maroon Hudson that I loved to play in. I'd love to have one of those again.


    Lee
    Places I Remember
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I very rarely see a Hudson on the road, but when I do, it takes me right back to my childhood. It's funny how cars do that. Thanks for the visit, Arlee!

      Delete
  10. Vickie, thanks for letting us in on a slice of your life. And what a ride you had!! I love the courage of your mother, and seeing you as a little girl. Really enjoyed this one! Kelly L.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Mom had no fear...I hope in the right circumstances, I can display that trait! Glad you enjoyed my journey down Memory Lane, Kelly....thanks for your visit.

      Delete

I would love to have you comment...thanks!

Journey into the Promised Land

Journey into the Promised Land
From Egypt to Israel