Childhood Vacations!

Vacation has always been important to me. Everybody has priorities and this is top on my list. When I was a kid, we would go on vacation every year, no matter what. I recall staying with family and friends on many occasions. We did not always go fancy, but we did have tons of fun. We got away from our regular lives and spent good quality time together. Those were the days before cell phones and internet.

Did I mention that vacation wasn't always fun? Even so, I wouldn't take back one of them. We blew out countless tires in the motorhome, found ourselves in interesting motels (can you say rented by the hour?) or drove miles out of our way (or in circles). Those unwelcome and unplanned events are now fond memories. I learned a lot in those moments. Just a couple of quick examples:

• It seemed like we had an annual date with my aunt and uncle in Lodi, as we seemed to always need a new tire for the motorhome. Trust me, nobody was laughing at the time. In retrospect, I loved the extra time I spent with my family in Lodi.


• My dad and I shared some bonding moments walking (and catching a ride) to gas stations, swimming at the Delta (with Sheryl) while pushing our broken down boat, etc.

Here's a couple of funny things about travelling (or caravaning) with my Papa and Grandma that make me laugh...

• When travelling to a family reunion, I was in the back of the camper with my aunts, as my parents followed behind. We would put signs against the door for people to read.


• My papa and grandma are pretty neat and do not really appreciate fart sounds and horsing around. My sister and I almost had to switch cars with my three young boy cousins on the way to or from a reunion. The boys were being boys and farting like crazy. Papa was not happy! I think my dad taught them this obnoxious behavior. I still wonder why Papa thought we might be any better (he,he).


• My grandparents met us in Reno, NV for my uncles 40th birthday. Cellphones were very new and my grandparents had just gotten theirs. We tried to call them to find out where they were, but they wouldn't answer the phone. It turned out that they did not know how to answer it. Papa and grandma probably had to listen to their phone ring a hundred times, as we kept trying to call. Now cell phones are second nature to all of us.

Funny moments aside, anytime I spent and continue to spend with my grandparents is priceless and extremely special. They are a great couple and an awesome role models. Did I mention they have been married for 60 years, have six children, 16 grandchildren and many more great-grandchildren?

At some point in the future, I will try to blog about my 1980 trip to Arkansas in the back of a Dodge D50 pickup truck. Other vacation highlights I hope to write about include camping at Travel Village in Valencia, boating on the Delta, and touring Washington DC.