The family road trip...... It happens every summer, oh sure, the high price of gas has made many families have a "staycation", instead of a vacation, but I still see the sure signs of the summer road trips. I remember our own family road trips, back in the day, in our white Chevy Bel Air, when back seats of vehicles were big enough to build forts out of blankets.When Mom would dig through her purse for a Kleenex, that smelled of Juicy Fruit gum, spit on
it, and then wipe my mouth after eating a snack. When winding roads were always interrupted by the quick actions of my Mom with a brown paper bag, when she saw my face turning green. But more importantly, not being confined by seat belts, being able to sit on my knees, facing out the back window, and vigorously pump my arm up and down to the trucks we would pass on the freeway, in hopes that a loud blast from the air horn would be heard.Most times, I was rewarded for my enthusiasm to hear that air horn with a long blast, followed by my smiling and waving, and feeling like I had been given a gift. Even today, that ritual continues, from the very young to the middle aged, maybe trying to relive a part of their childhood. When possible, Craig always tries to give them a good blast.
After leaving the Casino, we made it to Medford, OR and called it a day. Monday morning off we go again, with a stop in Aurora, OR for fuel and a lunch break.
Looking at our options on where to stay we opted for the Pilot in Tumwater, WA. Tumwater had been a destination stop for many trips our family took up north, with the mandatory visit to the Olympia Brewery and the tasting afterwards, far more enjoyable to my parents than to my brother and I. Although we were given the choice of a light (7up) or dark (Coke) beverage, just like the adults.I'm happy to say that the bananas arrived in great shape in Puyallup, Wa this morning at 5am. This was one of the quickest unloads we have ever had at a Fred Meyer DC, less than 60 minutes. We now wait to hear what our next assignment will be. With only one more day left until home time, I can't imagine it will be much more than picking up something in the Seattle area and heading to Spokane. Maybe along the way we'll have a chance to blast the air horn to create a memory for someone for their own rite of summer road trip.
2 comments:
Our kids made forts outta blankets, took naps on the rear window deck and pumped their arms at the truckers. Good writing; good story. Thanks.
I remember doing the arm thing as a kid. Mom was driving and dad was asleep in the front seat. He nearly went through the roof when the trucker yanked on that air horn. I was always a bit leary of doing that again. But we had fun.
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