Home Sweet Home

Our plans changed somewhat for our return trip home (road closures and weather in Yosemite) so we ended up getting home a day earlier than we had anticipated. The drive from Klamath Falls to home (via Powell Butte to visit with friends Dennis and Bonnie) was much more relaxing than we've had most of this trip. We did get a bit of slushy weather out of Klamath Falls but when we got closer to Central Oregon the sky was clear and the Cascades were beautiful. Love, love, love Oregon!!!!

This trip had such mixed emotions ... it's good to be home, back in our own bed but we're glad we went to California for Diane's services and to see family we haven't seen for several years.

Surprises along the way

One of the things that draws our attention on our road trips are the different veteran memorials we've seen. The smaller the community the more they seem to understand the importance of honoring veterans (obviously something that is near and dear to our hearts). Today we were taken totally by surprise when seemingly "in the middle of nowhere" we saw a sign that said "Living Memorial Sculpture Garden". Another reason we love "the road less traveled" ... you never know what surprises await.
We were just out of Weed, California on our way to Klamath Falls, Oregon (our stop for the night) when we saw the sign. Since we weren't on a freeway or interstate, we didn't have to worry about missing an off ramp so we pulled off the road to check it out ... so glad we did. (More information at http://www.weedlmsg.org/)

Today's Pictures

The Road Less Traveled - Hwy 97 near California/Oregon Border

Mt. Shasta (top is still obscured by clouds)

Living Memorial Sculpture Garden - Highway 97

The Wall (aka Hot LZ)

"The Greatest Generation"

"Those Left Behind"

"POW"

"Coming Home"

"Wounded Warriors"

"The Nurses"

"Korean War"

Homeward Bound

It's time to head home ... definitely a more leisurely trip with some special time for remembering the past and building new memories.

We left Pasadena this morning (nice to miss commuter traffic since it's Saturday) with today's ultimate destination being Fresno, California. Before leaving the area, we went by the first home we bought in Norwalk (purchase price was $22,500). After that we went by the homes we both lived in when we met. To say the areas have changed since 1973 when we moved to Oregon would be an understatement! On the other hand ... it was funny to see that the once bright green we had painted our first home was still on the garage (though definitely more muted in tone). The house is run down and a bit "sad" looking and the driveway that needed replaced when we lived there is still in need of replacing but we have some great memories there and will hold on to those and not the condition of the house now.

The area in Bell Gardens that we grew up in has also changed but we were able to find the duplex that Garey's family lived in as well as the house that I lived in just down the street. My family's home had a one bedroom rental house at the back of the lot (a converted garage) that Karey and I lived in while Garey was in Vietnam and that the three of us lived in for a time when he came home. There was an extra garage (which was turned into a rec room with pool table, etc. when I was growing up) that has been turned into another rental house as well. Add a 6 foot chain link fence and the appearance of the place had changed to the point it took us awhile to find which house had been my family's home. Again, lots of memories from that house that we will hold on to and not the changed place it is today. (No pictures)

Next stop was by our high school where all of our future together began and the highlight of our "walk through memory lane". We didn't expect to get to see much since it was Saturday but there were several events taking place so we were able to walk around the grounds. Again, much has changed but there was much that remained the same. I think we amazed a young girl  who took one of our pictures ... we told her we had met there over 48 years ago! Old people ... don't you just love us??? LOL Ironic that this young girl just happened to be the age I was when Garey and I met.

Where it all began

Reliving Memories - Front steps of the high school

At Senior Square (hmmm ... high school senior or senior as citizen???)

Class of 1996 - 30 Years after Garey graduated but love the motto

Saying Good-bye

Today was Diane's memorial service and a time to reflect and remember. After a slight mishap of having the wrong address for the church and driving all over Covina we finally got to the church .... and thankfully in plenty of time to get to talk with family and for Garey to catch his breath after our hectic morning.

After the service we went to lunch with Garey's cousin, Brenda, and her two daughters. We had a wonderful visit and remembered again why Brenda has always been so special to both of us. Listening to Laurie and Cheryl was like listening to our daughters banter back and forth and it was fun getting to know both of them better.

After we came back to the hotel, we changed clothes and put on our walking shoes and went exploring the area around the hotel. We found several antique stores ... always fun to see things from different areas of the country and even more fun to see things we've had in the past and see the prices that are put on them. Fortunately we didn't find anything we couldn't live without so the only antiques that will be returning to our home is us!

So upset I didn't think of getting a picture of Garey and Brenda together ... guess we'll have to do this again sometime!!

Diane's Memorial

Flowers from Diane's Memorial taken to Dad & Mom Wood's Gravesite

Day 2 - Addendum

We discovered long ago that you cannot get a pastrami sandwich in Oregon like the ones in Southern California that we grew up on and since we don't get down here that often (the last time was five years ago) we decided to totally splurge and find a pastrami sandwich for dinner.

Oh my ... were these good! They were also very big so each of us have half of our sandwiches left for tomorrow! We're probably better off not having pastrami sandwiches like this in Oregon (although one of the food carts in Portland would probably make a killing if they did make these!)

Heading South - Day 1 and 2

We left home at 5:45 a.m. just a bit ahead of our planned departure. It rained until just past Corvallis when we hit "gray" skies but no more rain. The further south we drove the clearer the skies got and we ended up with a beautiful sunny day. We both realize how much we've gotten used to the "road less traveled" as we dodged in and out of the semi-trucks and high speed traffic. We got caught in a bit of commuter traffic around Sacramento but other than that it wasn't too bad. Garey was an absolute trooper ... so glad he was the one driving!

A good night's sleep and we were off again this morning ... a much shorter day so we missed the Los Angeles commuter traffic (that's not to say there weren't a lot of cars on the road). We got settled in to our room and then went and visited with Allen and Justin (Diane's husband and grandson) for awhile. It's going to be a rough road with lots of ups and downs as the family deals with the sudden loss of Diane. Continued prayers for Diane's family and friends is appreciated! After visiting with Allen and Justin, we drove to the cemetery where Garey's parents are buried and did some clean up around their headstone and just had some time to reflect and remember all of Garey's family.

We have been able to take some special time for us ... continuing to build memories. Since pictures are helpful to us in remembering our journeys, here are a few from the past two days.

Mount Shasta

(look close ... you MIGHT get to see the top!)

Not a great picture but this is Lake Shasta

Why we like the roads less traveled

(even if we do occasionally hear banjos!)

This is more like it ...

side trip on Hwy 145 to Hwy 41/Hwy 99

And what's Southern California without an In-N-Out Burger and Palm Trees?

On the Road Again

Memorials ...

Getting ready to leave on another road trip; this one is not so much about Building Memories, though we tend to do that regardless of the reason for the trip. It will also not be as long as most of our road trips ... probably a week or less. We'll be leaving at oh-dark-thirty tomorrow to go to Southern California for Diane Berry's memorial service.

Diane was Garey's sister who died unexpectedly at the age of 61 of what has been determined to be natural causes. We are thankful for the assurance that Diane had trusted Jesus as her personal Savior when she was 12 years old. With the timing of Easter just last Sunday, we are reminded that Jesus conquered sin and death for us and that the loss of a loved one who has placed their faith and trust in Jesus is not the end but just the beginning of life. So although we are saying good-bye, Jesus has already told Diane "Welcome home."