As I travel and play with my kids this summer, I will have intermittant guest posts from some of my favorite bloggy friends. I asked all of them to share a favorite summer memory from when they were growing up, with a vintage pictures as well. It’s always fascinating to me what people remember from their childhood, and it helps formulate in my mind what fun things I should do with my kids in order for them to have positive memories from their childhood that I’m helping to create for them. I love a good story, and I’m excited to read through all of the stories from my friends, and share them with you.
First up is Leigh Anne from Your Homebased Mom. Her blog is all kinds of pretty, and now that she’s got all of her kids out on their own, she is sharing her wisdom, and I love to listen. Delicious recipes and beautiful photography for me to drool over as well.
I was born in Southern California but when I was four my family which consisted of my mother, father and my new baby sister, moved to Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is a long ways from California. My mother is an only child and thus my sister and I were the only grandchildren. Each summer my mother and sister and I would make a trip back to California to see my grandparents. We usually stayed for weeks because it was a long trip. You see, my mother was afraid of flying. Actually, she was terrified of flying so we had to use alternate means of transportation. Since my dad usually didn’t go with us because he was working, driving from Wisconsin to California was out of the question. We got to ride the train.
I have so many fond memories of riding the train. It all seems so romantic now although I’m not sure my mother thought so at the time. Two little girls and herself on a train for days, trying to keep us entertained. Probably not her idea of romantic. We had our own little sleeping compartment and during the day we would go to the club car and play cards and various other games. It was a lovely way to see the country and to travel. I still remember the train – the Santa Fe Super Chief.
One of the advantages to visiting Grandma and Grandpa Schenck was that they lived just outside of Pasadena in San Gabriel, California which isn’t very far from Disneyland. So, every trip to see Grandma and Grandpa usually included a trip to Disneyland. (Someone get that girl some sunglasses!)
My grandpa passed away when I was ten years old. I wish I could have known him better. The summer before he passed away we took the train out to California as usual and of course, had a trip to Disneyland. He was too sick to go with us this time.
Over my life time I have made many, many trips to Disneyland and to DisneyWorld and I love it as much as I did when I was a child. There is just a certain feeling I get when I walk through those gates. I feel like a little girl again, there is the same excitement I felt when I was seven years old and spent the day there with my Grandpa. I do believe it is one of the Happiest Places on Earth!
I don’t think I have ever made a trip to Disney or passed a passenger train that I don’t think of my grandpa and those summers we spent in California.
Kristen Duke
Latest posts by Kristen Duke (see all)
- Tips for helping people feel comfortable at photo sessions - June 15, 2013
- BlogHer Food 2013 Blogging Conference - June 14, 2013
- Tips for a Great Headshot - June 13, 2013
Thanks to Leigh Anne (am a huge fan of hers) for reminding us about important memories. Disneyland memories are in my memory bank too. . . .plus lots of adventures with both Grandpas. . . . .
Thanks for sharing! I think I have that *same* photo from Disneyland! Don’t we all!