My personal web space, digital scrapbook, historical record, and online playground.
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Today, 53 years ago, my parents made their promises to each other, for better or for worse. I have greatly benefited from that commitment. My family has also been greatly blessed by their example of faithfulness and love.
Thanks Mom and Dad!
Here’s a sketch I made for their 50th Anniversary…
When I graduated from High School, and had no plans for college, a friend of mine, Paul Heibert, and I decided we were going to ride motorcycles from Oregon to Costa Rica where I was born. He was a few years older than me, and had a Moto Guzzi. I was ready to sell my car and get one too. Well, the trip didn’t happen. I don’t remember exactly why, but I decided to go to Europe instead. I’ve always wondered how it would have been.
When I was a kid in Bolivia a couple of guys rode Harleys from the states clear down to La Paz, Bolivia. I think they even stayed with us. My brothers and I thought they were very cool, with their long hair and beards, awesome bike, and really worn-out jeans.
So—I have a fascination with long motorcycle trips that goes WAY back. Earlier this year, while looking up stuff about Bolivia, I came across this blog. It’s really become a favorite of mine. Here’s was a guy that rode not only to Bolivia, but at the time he was on his way from Alaska to the tip of South America! He has since gone up through Africa on his way around the world!
I got hooked on his posts—great descriptions of his adventures and interactions with people, and lots of stunningly beautiful pictures. He’s in Turkey right now (I think!), but his current posts (when he has time and an internet link I guess) are describing his trip up through Africa. Over 700 days on the road! Almost 55,000 miles, 1000 gallons of gas, and 27,000 pictures!
Check it out! It’s great for those uf us that probably won’t, but wish we could!
Tomorrow (Sunday) marks the twenty-first year that we have had our sweet Alison with us. Her arrival was a wonderful thing. I remember being in awe that we actually got to take her home! We didn’t have medical insurance in those days, but they let us take her home anyway, and we promised to pay the $50 a month they wanted. (It took a long time to pay off, since we got all ready for a C-section and all. DIdnt end up having the C-section, but that’s a longer story than I have time for now!)
I remember the pride I felt when I first strapped Alison in her car seat in back of our 1968 Datsun sedan, and took her for a drive, just the two of us. (Since I’m going back in time, there was also the night I ran out of gas in that same Datsun, with her in the back. I locked the doors and went into a house that was right there by 99W, and called my dad. Then I went running back out to make sure she was still there. Wow—fatherhood is great!
Happy Birthday, Alison! You have become such a fine young woman, and you make your mother and I very proud.
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