I was introduced to the road trip when I was twelve. My family lived in Prairie Village, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. One evening my dad took me aside and told me we would be moving to California. I was twelve, the oldest of five children. The reason for our move was the torrential flooding of the Missouri River. It blasted through the huge Kansas City stockyards devastating the businesses and drowning the cattle. My father and his partners insured those stockyards and they too were wiped out.
My mother’s parents and one of her sisters lived in Chula Vista, California near San Diego. So that’s where we were going. We filled two station wagons–Mom driving one with me and the two little girls, Troya, 2, and Deborah, 4, on board, and Dad driving the second with Rebecca, 7, and Jerry, 9, in tow. I changed a lot of diapers on that trip!
We weren’t exactly the Joads, but to the casual observer who witnessed us drive up to a filling station or a diner along Route 66 we must have been quite a sight. Two big cars, two harried adults and a stream of kids desperate to get out and run around and/or find the bathroom. We were a formidable sight as we sprinted for the toilet and danced around waiting for our turn. Looking back, I do not know how my parents managed it all, but they did and we arrived in sunny California gawking at the palm trees, the beach and the ocean and never looked back.
I think road trips are in my DNA. My ancestors arrived in this country in the 18th Century. They made their way to the midwest and stayed there for a while but by the 20th Century most of us had migrated to the west coast which is where I have lived my life. This road trip will be my last. I’m taking my dog, Brandy, along. I adopted her a few months ago. A former Search and Rescue dog, Brandy is well trained and likes to ride in the car. She’s a 6 year old German Shepherd–beautiful and sweet–but with large white teeth.
People have asked me why I don’t just take a plane to Pagosa Springs, Colorado which is where I’m headed. My brother and his family live there. The allure of the road is a powerful force, but there’s a kind of symmetry about this trip. My adult life began on the road to California. And now, this journey will enhance the last chapter of my life. I want to celebrate my 84th birthday this November with one last adventure under my belt. It will be a source of great stories to recall, savor, and share.