Magpie and Muttonfly

Well hello again!  I’m back from my wee holiday; and I do believe I can say with confidence, good times were had by all. 

This visit, especially, seemed a time to meander down memory lane.  On the way, my grama talked about what the trip was like sixty-five years ago; she’d point out places she would visit in her younger years… like his wee mountain that she, a friend, and her brother and future sister-in-law would climb part-way up, then lounge about to talk, laugh, and take pictures … 

Saturday, we dropped grama off at her friends house.  They’ll be turning 80 and 90 years old, respectively–but the twinkle in their eyes, upon our return, proved that memories have a sneaky way of transporting a person back in time…

While the old girls were doing their thing, my aunt, mom and I did our own bit of reminiscing.  We drove by their childhood homes and made a stop at their old elementary school…

We ate lunch in what use to be JC Penny’s; and munched divine chocolates while soaking in the sun on a park bench …

After we picked grama up, we went shopping.  Before we went into the store my grama told us how her mother once gave her sister and her each $5.00 before going shopping one day. She wanted to return the favor. So she pulled out a twenty (inflation) for each of us and off we went–three generations, seeking out treasure. 

Nary a one came away empty handed.  As we tucked our goodies in the car my mom said, ”We should totally drag the gut.”  Admittedly, I did not care to drag my gut; it’s quite big enough as it is, thank you very much.  Thankfully, dragging the gut is not a literal statement. Dragging the gut, you see, is cruising main.  Which we did.  At four o’clock in the afternoon.  My mom, aunt, grandma and I … driving ten miles an hour.  I even poked up through the sunroof and waved my arms and screamed.  Okay, I didn’t really.  I did pop up, but I was more concerned with getting stuck or otherwise injuring myself, my camera, or my aunt’s car…

Of course, all that stepping back in time, made me think back as well.  Burns, Oregon may have been smaller than Boise, Idaho, but when I was younger, it seemed like a big city.  My cousins were active in everything and everyone, it seemed, knew them.  They owned the A&W drive-in … which meant we could walk over and get “free” food anytime we wished.  And my cousins always had such cool things–like the Donny & Marie record player! 

As I sat there in a room freshly painted, I could still picture it so long ago.  I could see small hands playing and hear the giggles.  Although I would not care to go back, I’m thankful for all the memories housed within those walls.  And I look forward to all yet to come …