Back in Time

The highlights of my childhood summer was going to Washington State. We started going when I was three. I had twin cousins, Peggy and Trish who were 9 months younger than me.  For part of every summer I felt like I had sisters. They lived three blocks down K Street from my grandmother.

It took us four days to make the 2,500 mile trip--one way. Along the way we always took time to see the sights. Dad, having been in WWII, drove almost entirely by landmarks, remembering the good restaurants and "Tourist courts" along the way. There were no chain motels like today except for Holiday Inns and their locations were sparse. The roads were almost entirely two lane roads--having a four lane divided highway was always a treat, no little towns to slow us down--but they were precious few. And there were those mountain roads--sometimes they were so scary that I would lie down in the floor of the backseat trying not to be scared. The trip was always an adventure. I remember Yellowstone before the big earthquake and before the big fire.

Now, 55 years after my first trip, I still enjoy going back to those precious memories of my childhood for a couple of weeks each summer. One year when Peggy and I got together I commented to my uncle, "When Peg and I get together, it is like I am thirteen years old again." My uncle--reading the paper, looked up and said, "More like nine!"

Me with my cousins, Joyce, Trish, Jo and Chris

Sandra, Ian and Uncle Del

Uncle Del, Auntie Pat, Romarie, and Katie

                                                       Uncle Del, Auntie Pat and Joyce                                                                                     

                                                                                                            Joyce and Trish in Leavenworth

Shirley

The Rieman-Simmons Historic House in Quincy, Washington 

                                                         Auntie Pat

                             Uncle Del                                      Karen, Jonathan, Christopher Michael and Chris

                                                                           The original Starbucks

Paul and Karin

Me, Paul and Joyce at the Pike Place Market

Thanks to my mom and dad I got to travel the west and make wonderful memories.