"We traveled around in Lake County on our honeymoon, and my dad stayed at our place to make sure nothing was stolen," Mom says. Before age set in, before the Alzheimer's/dementia, before the stroke, Dad drove some sweet rigs down the highway, Mom sitting beside him. Some of those rides we kids also rode along on trips to the ocean or trips to the Sierra Nevadas.
The photo above was the rig Dad pulled on Mom and Dad's honeymoon. Looks like a great set-up! I believe Mom said there was a cooking station in the back and a bed before it, but it took some arranging to get it all set.
Mom had lived some in Lake County as a little girl. I later lived in the area at Cobb Mountain in my early 20's. Mom and Dad were married in August, so it must have been hot for camping, but the mountains must have provided some coolness from the elevation.
I love the convertible Dad was driving. Anybody know the make and model? Remember that Mom never drove because of her poor eyesight.
This was in 1946. I have this picture in my mind: Mom and Dad newly married, their family waving them off from their new home, the top down, the sun bright and hopeful.
I'll ask Mom about it, though. It's a wonderful story--not much money, so that's why they camped. The whole world ahead of them.
We shouldn't just count our blessings; we should savor them, savor our moments of glory.
It's like the words of the Navaho Night Chant:
May it be beautiful before me.
May it be beautiful behind me.
May it be beautiful below me.
May it be beautiful above me.
May it be beautiful all around me.
In beauty it is finished.
In beauty it is finished.
This blog post was inspired by Mom's narration from A Day Out with Mom, from the chapter entitled "Engagement and Marriage."
Copyright 2014 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved
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