GROWING UP AND MOVING OUT

 

Wayne 1956.

In the summer of 1956 my parents helped me run away from home.  I felt there wasn't any room in the 32' trailer we were living in at Woodley Hills trailer Park in Alexandria, VA., for Dad, Mom, Jay, me, Evy, Davy and Wayne.  We may have added the alumo room by then so Mom could have her piano and cedar chest.  I don't remember if Grandpa Roy was visiting us at that time.  I would turn 13 in July so I determined that I should go visit Grandma Grace Belle, Grandpa Roy, Grandma Isabel, Grandpa Claude, Uncle Hollis, Aunt Jeanne, cousins Richard, Janet and Bob in Spokane.

1956 Grandpa Roy with Mom and Davy by alumo room.  I think she was pregnant with Wayne then.

Spokane 1954 Richard, Uncle Hollis, Aunt Jeanne, Bob, Grandma Isabel, Janet, and Grandpa Claude.

Spokane 1958 Richard, Bob, Janet.

1950 Grandpa Roy and Grandma Grace Belle.

My Wisconsin relatives--  Aunt Emily, Uncle Ernest, cousins Kit and Rinda would be driving from Eau Claire to Spokane that summer.  It was arranged for me to take the bus from Washington D.C. to Eau Claire and hitch a ride with them the rest of the way. 

Uncle Ernest and Aunt Emily 

1957 Rinda and me.

1957 me with Kit.

Mom and Dad had no idea that I would have to change buses in Chicago.  Fortunately for me I looked young enough that nobody tried to "pick me up" at the Chicago bus terminal.  Also I had become bus sick and my dress may have been smelly. A soldier asked me if I knew where to get the bus for Eau Claire.  I didn't.  He pointed me to where I should wait then he took off to go to a bar. 

Meanwhile, at the same time, Jay left for Mexico to visit a family who we knew through Aunt Emily and Uncle Ernest-- the Benitez.  His letter to us follows.

1956 letter from Jay. 

Sounds like Jay had a wonderful time.

On our trip from Eau Claire to Spokane I remember one lunch Aunt Emily prepared for us which we ate as we drove.  She took hard French rolls and filled them with deviled ham.  The best sandwich I had ever had up to that point.  Kit and Rinda read quite a bit as we traveled.  I had never been able to read in a car without becoming sick. As I studied them I was tempted to read.  I picked up some of their reading material and started reading just as we entered the Badlands of South Dakota.  Aunt Emily instructed me that I was missing the Badlands.  I was shocked.  All this time Kit and Rinda had been reading and just as I started reading I was singled out.  I was not happy with her.  My angry retort was, "I've already seen the Badlands." ( I didn't take correction well.) My family had driven west through South Dakota many times.  Our family stopped at Mt. Rushmore one time.  I remember the buffalo steak served in the restaurant.  It was delicious. (We had roast buffalo at R Ranch and it wasn't as good.)

When we arrived in Spokane I asked to be dropped off at Grandpa Roy and Grandma Grace Belle's farm.  Unfortunately my aunt and uncle had planned for me to accompany them and my cousins to Walla Walla.  So after a few letters flying back and forth I joined them.  After that excursion I was dropped off at the farm and my Aunt Evelyn and cousins Dorothy and Richard arrived just then.  

The highlight of the summer was a birthday cake for me provided by Aunt Evelyn. Trips to Natatorium Park and Liberty Lake were special memories for me.  (My cousin Kit tried to get me to scream on the ferris wheel when he would turn our enclosed cage upside down.  I refused to scream.) I hated shopping but Aunt Evelyn thought I didn't like to shop because I had no money.  She gave me some money but I still despised it.  (My daughter and my husband shop for me now.) Grandma Grace Belle was a good cook.  We had steak, potatoes, and from the garden--  fresh peas, beets, carrots, and salad. We had icecream with strawberries on top for dessert.  She kept a watermelon in the refrigerator for anytime we would want a slice. 

There are several letters from me to my folks that summer saying that I wasn't coming home until they bought a house.  I believe I was under the influence of Grandma Isabel as she had much to say about us living in a trailer. They did buy a house and I went home.

I was informed by one of my correspondence writing teachers that my story about my trip cannot be published as a children's story because there is no plot.  Nothing bad happened.  So I leave it here for the family to read.

Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you

    to guard you in all your ways.