Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Vacation


Today is Day 20 of BlogFest 2012.  Today’s host is Toni from Renee Ashley Williams.  The topic question for today is:


Have you ever returned home from a family vacation and felt more exhausted than when you left?


Me and (and I think?? Sleepy)  1972
     Most vacations my family took revolved around one of my Dad’s loads to the same destination.  We would follow him in our family car, and after he delivered his load he left his truck at a truck stop and we went and enjoyed our vacation together.   Thinking over the past vacations that my family took over the years I can honestly say each and every one I returned home happy and energized from all the wonderful memories that were created.  I loved every minute of it.   Over the years I went to Disney World and Florida 3 times.  Because I was only 3 the first time and 4 the second, I don’t remember much about those trips.  Thanks to home movies, family stories, and photographs my memories have been helped along a bit.  The last time when I went with my parents to Disney World and Epcot were the best because I remember it in vivid detail.  We had a blast.
Me and Minnie Mouse Fall 1986


       I remember one year we followed my Dad’s truck out west.  We vacationed in Colorado visiting tourist attractions like the Denver Mint where I got to see money being made, the house of the unsinkable Molly Brown, ghost towns, Pikes Peak, and the Santa Claus Workshop that lies at the mountain’s base. I remember vividly panning for gold, feeling sick on the summit of Pike’s Peak because I wasn’t used to the elevation, and then throwing up from one end of Santa Claus village to the other.  I was scared Santa wouldn’t come that year because I covered his home with vomit.  Thankfully he did come, and I was relieved!!





       One year my family went and explored the Wisconsin Dells.  We rode the legendary ducks, went on boat tours of the Dells, and seen a futuristic house that was weird.  While we were touring a wax museum a door inside blew open and straw flew everywhere.  We ran outside to discover a tornado heading right for us from down the street.  Instead of taking cover, my mom, dad, and I stood mesmerized watching the tornado destroying everything in its path as it progressed up the street.  Before it reached us it dissipated.  The elevators down to the boat rides were all loaded with people trapped when the power went out.


Me at Kings Island about 1989



        There have been many trips to Nashville, Tennessee, Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Six Flags.  We went on a trip to Mackinac Island and countless trips all over the country where the main objective was to see the Oak Ridge Boys.  For my mom, the Oak Ridge Boys were an attraction that rivaled Mickey Mouse.  I got sunburned swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and sunbathing on the Florida beaches.  When I think back, I have been quite a few places.

On our honeymoon 1997




        When my husband and I married we honeymooned on the Lake Erie islands of Put-in-Bay and Kelley’s Island.  Since then there have been a few day trips to zoos, museums, and overnight camping but no real vacations.  Unfortunately for me, since my husband is on the road 3-5 weeks at a time, his idea of vacation is coming home until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.


14 comments:

  1. You were lucky to travel so much as a kid. My dad was self employed so trips were always quick ones, and usually to Yonkers, NY to visit the family. He couldn't be gone from work long b/c he was like one of only two plumbers in the whole town. My mom wouldn't fly so it was basically as far as we could drive in 2-3 days in order to have me back in time for school, except the times we took the train.

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    1. JoJo, considering I don't get to go anywhere now, I am glad I got to at least travel then. My folks were big on driving every where. I have never flown in my life or been on a train. We always went by car. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  2. I was in the same situation as JoJo. My dad was an electrical contractor in a small town and couldn't be away from the business for more than a few days. Most of our family vacations were long weekends in a place in Missouri called Ozark Springs or, if we had a few more days, a quick trip to Texas to visit his family. The year before I started high school, we took the only real vacation I remember, driving east to the Smoky Mountains, then south, and finally back west to loop home.

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    1. Angela, it is kind of the same boat we are in now. If not lack of funds and no time to get away, then the dilemma of what to do with our pets while we go. I hope we can go somewhere someday with the kids. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  3. Loved reading this! Memories of family vacations are always fun!

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    1. Molly Jo, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  4. You've been to so many of the same places I've been too. Wouldn't it be funny if we had a crystal ball and could discover that at some point we were on the same beach in Florida getting "french fried"? LOL.

    Great post-- I love the pic with you and Sleepy, you and Minnie and you at kings island! Lovely post :)

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    1. Jenn, we could have totally passed each other and never known it!! Isn't that wild?? Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments. I love these pictures too. I look so happy!! ♥

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  5. My family didn't vacation when I was a kid. My parents had 6 kids and dad was the outside bread winner. I always wanted to travel, so as an adult, I made it my mission to do so. I went to Ireland on my 21st b-day so I could have my first beer in a pub! I love traveling, and camping. I retreated to Paris on vacation with a girlfriend after the loss of my hubby. I knew it would make me feel good to travel. Now, I am remarried to someone who don't like to travel. It is a rough one for me, but I am working on him..Got him on an Amtrak to VA.. Small steps! Thanks for sharing your pics! You look so happy in all of the shots... Disney World is a fav of mine..Great at Christmas time!

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    1. Winnie, how lucky you are to have been to all those amazing places. WOW. I was very happy. It makes me sad that I will never probably get to travel much now but am happy I at least got to do it when my parents were alive. I love Disney World and would just give anything to experience once more with my husband and kids. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!!

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  6. Don't you have a camper? Take your kids and pets and go camping without Dad. I used to do that a lot. We had so much fun. Summers are made for short camping trips and even long ones! The first time, I was a bit nervous, but it all went so well that we did it a ton of times after that. When I got time off, we just went. It's so cheap and so much fun.

    Your childhood had way more trips than mine did. We seldom went anywhere as a family except to the grandparents in Ohio, which I loved, but we never went to a vacation spot until after I was married.

    Love the pictures.

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    1. Jo, we do camp without him here at the house. Going somewhere else without him would not be the same and I would never do that. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments. ♥

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    1. Suzy, I am so happy you enjoyed seeing my pictures! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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