Travelers...

My neighbor across the street is taking a vacation with her 3 children under the age of 7. Well reminds me of us when we moved to each of our new pastorates. I spoke of one when we moved to Kentucky and the car was packed to the brim, actually there was an ironing board on my side between me and the door. Had to get out on the drivers side and had a baby in my arms. It was in July and hot hot hot..just ask Windy, she remembers and was only 4 years old...wow!
Well in 1974 we moved to New Mexico.  We loaded our uhaul, pulling a car behind the van and I was driving our car. Let me remind you I had never drove more that a few miles at a time and that just in town. When we took trips honey would drive and I would sleep!!! So away we go, honey had two  dog with him and me the 3 children. Windy was 12, Vann 9 and Jeff 8...not happy campers...but they had their 2 to 3 pillow each around them, luckily they liked to sleep some  while traveling. In those days the DVD had not been designed and I wish I had...would I be rich or what!  At times when they would arouse from their sleep would argue and fuss..."don't touch me" stop that" "mother, tell ....to stop that" and many more statements that would get a little hairy at times!!!  I was trying to stay awake and watch for that Van ahead of me. Honey did not seem to remember that I was behind him as he did his own thing , going at his own speed, going where he wanted....well! We got to Dallas and the worst interstate roads in the world (according to me). Honey entered a tunnel and without "remembering me" headed into it and I had to follow as I didn't know where I was going and followed him...when we got through  to the other side  instread of 3 lanes there were 4!!!! I made another lane just so I could follow him...I believe that I called him a number of names and some not good! HOrns honked and people just gave me such looks and I just threw up my hands and gave them such looks! Lord forgive me!!!!
As we traveled across Texas, to keep me awake the children and I would play  "cowboy and Indians" Us the cowboys and the Indians in the prairies  were after us! It kept me awake alright.  We made it alright and I hoped that would be the last for awhile but alas it wasn't.  I should mention that the dog decided it wasn't a traveler and about 50 miles from home we had stopped for gas in Iuka Ms and the dog got out and went into the station, laid down and refused to move...the owner just laughed and said "OK" I guess I have a dog"! and so we left her...but we had another dog and so  it was OK.
Then the time  we moved from Albuquerque NM to Florida and we were traveling through Texas in fact Muleshoe Texas...well there was this horrible smell ,honey and I were using CB"S this time to stay in contact...no more Dallas...and I picked up the mike and said  "what is that smell?" and immediately a voice came back and said" money honey that is money!" the kids had their heads embedded in their 3 pillows and hollering, yuck yuck!!!! We laughed about that for years. then in Post Texas we stopped for the best BBQ..nothing  around but that restaurant and 6 vans for catering. Do you think it was good? YES! We filled up on good Texas BBQ.
Traveling was our life for years and I don't think it hurt the children but broadened their lives.  They made many friends across this nation.
I will have to write another time about the trips the Leonards took when I was a young girl. Interesting!!!
thank you grandpa for listening to this little girls chatter. Love you J