Thursday, April 15, 2010

Motoring

Hey, Y'all,
Well, I must admit I had a lot of thinking to do about the "M" posting. I know a lot of you all will be writing about Mama's, and I could have done so, too. As most people do, I have a lot to say about mamas, but I decided to go in a different direction.

My husband and I have done a lot of traveling over the past 35 years, and I wanted to write some about a particular trip we made in the summer of 1994, just after I retired from teaching. We took a three week motor trip up into the area where I lived when I first was married to the father of my children. We visited a lot of places on that tour. We made no motel reservations ahead of time, except to reserve for the day that we would be stopping.

We spent some time in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and some time in Kendallville, Indiana, and also visited Warsaw, and walked around that city, and I pointed out to him some of the places that I was familiar with. We walked in Bixler Park, where Charlie, Margaret (my sister) and I took Carol to play the day before Teresa was born.

We went on west then and into Illinois. We traveled over a good deal of the midwest and stopped at a lot of tourist places, like St. Joseph Missouri where the Pony Express began. We went to the Henry P. Dooley Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. We went onto a steamboat there in Omaha (somewhere) and looked at it. We toured several historic churches, among them was a St. Ann's Church. I think it may have been in Minnesota.

In Minnesota we also visited Walnut Grove which was a town where Laura Ingalls lived as a girl. They have the whole section of town preserved where she lived. We really enjoyed doing the tour of that and did a lot of walking and looking. It was wonderful.

We also stopped at a house and saw where Jesse James was shot. I don't know what town that was. (You must realize it has been sixteen years since we took that trip). We also went to a woolen mill (Fariboult) in Minnesota, and were able to tour it. I bought a woolen hat there, and wore it for many years but somehow I no longer have it, darn it!

While in one of the towns in Minnesota, we saw a high school production of "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat" as produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber originally. It was really great.

One of the highlights of the trip for my husband, Gramps, was when we stopped at Hibbing, Minnesota and saw the Hull-Rust-Mahoning Iron Mine. It is the largest open pit iron mine in the world and in 1966 was added to the National Historical Landmarks of America.

While in Minnesota, we went on into Minneapolis-St. Paul and went to the Mall of America. OH, my! What a sight that was. Right now, thinking of the trip we made just about blows my mind. We eventually made our way into Canada for the first (and now I know, the last) time ever. It was something I won't forget (unless I wind up being like Gramps now).

We saw a lot more things on our motor trip, but I won't say much more right now. At the time we took this trip I was 61 and Gramps was 68 and still had all of his left foot. He had to have the front half of his left foot removed 4 years later due to an infection in his foot. He is a diabetic, and the foot would not heal. Fortunately the doctor was able to save the back part of his foot and the ankle.

Almost every year we have traveled out to Texas to visit our daughter and her family out there. We have also traveled to visit our daughter, Teresa, and her family who lived in Florida, every year. We traveled to visit my brother, John, and his family in Arizona. He passed on about a year and a half ago. We have also visited with nephew, David and his family, who live in Arizona. Well, you get the idea...we love to travel and most usually, I have driven. My sister-in-law, Imazo, told her sister, Barbara, that she knows how happy I am behind the steering wheel. She said, "Ruby is happier than a raccoon eatin' on an ear of corn, when she is behind that wheel". Yep, that about says it.

My daddy loved to go. Anytime anyone used the words, "Let's go", he had his hat on his head and was ready to take off. I guess I must have gotten the wanderlust in my feet from him.

That is about it for today. I look forward to reading all the postings for today, but it will have to wait until this evening. I got things to do, places to go, people to see. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. I'm thanking all of you other people who visit my blog. I appreciate "seeing" each of you. Bye for now. Much love to each of you. More later.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Grammy, Your trip sounds wonderful. My mother was like your dad. She was always ready to go! Isn't it wonderful to go back and relive all those memories of places we have been and what good times we had. Enjoyed your post.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Hello Ruby it sounds a wonderful trip, my husband always like driving his car,he was never happier.A good letter"M" blog.

Take care.
Yvonne.

Wanda said...

Hi Ruby, sounds like a great trip! Love reading your posts. Have a great day.

Arlee Bird said...

Now you're talking about one of my favorite things to do in all the world. In some of my blog posts I have recounted some of my years with a touring show where I traveled all of the time. My present wife and I have made several fine road trips including a few cross country.

You and I have a great deal in common. Before moving to Maryville I lived up in Crown Point, Indiana.
I have a sister who lives in Phoenix, AZ. And a daughter and son-in-law in Houston. If you ever pass me on the highway make sure you wave hello.

Lee
Blogging From A to Z April Challenge

Barbara said...

Hi Ruby I hope you all have a great day visiting in Knoxville today.You have really been to a lot of places.I never traveled much,My hubby never wanted to go anywhere.I was thrilled to go to Ohio.that was a big thing for me and Dorothy.Well have a great day.

Survivormama said...

Wow, you sure are well traveled aren't you...I have not really been anywhere exciting...Oregon, California, and Washington State...maybe someday I can get hubby to take me to Hawaii...thanks for the wonderul post of your travels Ruby!

Lorena G. Sims said...

I've enjoy reading your trip. Sounds like lots of fun and good memories.
I would like to visit Walnut Grove someday and also go to the Mall of America. Ruby, you just inspired me. My husband and I always talk about traveling around the country, but never had the time and the money to do it. But I guess if we wait for those two, we will never get to travel. :)

Julie said...

I live in the wonderful state Minnesota. I am so glad you had such a great time here. It is one of our nations most beautiful state. I love all your letter posts. You are a wonderful woman with so much to teach us all. Thank you for sharing.
Take care and God Bless!!

Ella said...

I love traveling in our country, especially road trips. We have done a few as a military family, driving to our next destination, when possible. Fun to read!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful post about traveling! I just loved it, that trip sounds amazing and, of course I loved to hear about all of the places you visited in MN, since that is where I am from (and still live)! By the way, Jesse James was killed in Northfield, MN...where they hold a Jesse James festival every year!

Glad you enjoyed the trip, it certainly sounds like a wonderful one!

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