While traversing the vast regions of the USA on a month long roadtrip in the 70s, my parents had a lot of rules of the road. You can only eat at McDonald’s, Howard Johnson’s or Burger King. My mom believed big corporations and franchises were always reliable. She had no interest in local flavor. WeContinue reading “Rules of the Roadtrip”
Category Archives: teen memories
A Good Deed
It was a cold and icy winter day. There was no snow on the ground, but the temperatures plummeted below zero for the prior week. A perfect recipe for ground ice. 17-year-old Greg woke early at 7am on Saturday morning and groggily bundled up to go to swimming practice. Mr. Herbert, Greg’s swim coach, insistedContinue reading “A Good Deed”
Tales from the Backseat: Viva Reno
Soon after our California departure, the view from the backseat was blank. Literally nothing to see. But then some snow capped mountains appeared bigger and bigger in the windshield, despite the 70 degree temperature. It was so out of place in the desert, it almost looked like a movie set, so my dad decided toContinue reading “Tales from the Backseat: Viva Reno “
Fun, Fame and Family Secrets – Episode 2 Tales from the Backseat
Traveling in 1970 something was quite different than in 2020 something. Without the all-powerful and knowing internet, planning a trip meant visiting the library to look up travel books or arranging everything through an expensive travel agent. Hours in a library for a busy mother of three was not an option and travel agents wereContinue reading “Fun, Fame and Family Secrets – Episode 2 Tales from the Backseat”
I Left A Lot in San Francisco: Tales from the Backseat Episode 7
The difference between being a preteen and a child on a family vacation is like the comparing Mount Everest to the dirt hill kids jump their bikes over. It’s a continental divide. During my preteen years, I wanted to be cool and strived to seem grown-up. And I definitely did not want to act likeContinue reading “I Left A Lot in San Francisco: Tales from the Backseat Episode 7”
A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes
Episode 6 – Tales from the Backseat California here we are. After three weeks navigating most of the lower half of the US and a bit of Mexico, we finally made it to the golden west coast. And as any red-blooded American family, the first place we went was DISNEYLAND. It was the mecca of small childrenContinue reading “A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes”
I Hate Green Beans!
As a kid, I had a very strict rule. I didn’t eat anything green. I was a finicky eater at best, but I just hated the awful taste in my mouth. And to make matters worse, my mother wasn’t a cook. She put everything on the table as best as she could, unfortunately, that meantContinue reading “I Hate Green Beans!”
Darkness Within
The dark sky loomed, relentlessly following every step, blocking every turn. I never thought I could feel so powerless. How could the world twist so out of control that it would target my child? I’ve always trailed my own unconventional path, but I can’t imagine what it feels like to be trapped in your ownContinue reading “Darkness Within”
Queens of Cruisin’
It was 1 AM at night, but the sun was still out. At least it was in my mind. That night, the sun,moon and stars converged and reflected in the shine of my silver metallic 1978 CamaroBerlinetta while I was cruisin’.The first time I went cruisin’, I thought it was stupid. All night teens droveContinue reading “Queens of Cruisin’”