I remember how much I enjoyed reading all the wonderful Burma Shave signs as they came up around the curves. The sayings were always so much fun, and I think I read them out loud, to everybody's delight. I also remember looking for cars with different state license tags on them and marking them off on a list. One of my favorite games was to try to keep up with the little creeks that the roads followed as they twisted and turned along the old goat paths of the back country trails that passed for highways.
As an only child, I had to find ways to amuse myself, as Mama always slept through the rides. If my Grandparents were along, they were usually asleep, too! And I couldn't bother Daddy. Well, I wasn't supposed to, anyway.
Just let me see a Stuckey sign and I would start in, telling him how many miles away it was, begging to stop there. Grandmother usually helped out on that campaign. We both loved Stuckeys, with all the souvenir shelves, and that wonderful praline candy. I can almost taste it now. And if we went through some little town and I saw a Dairy Queen, I would be clamboring for a dipped cone. I usually won that begging round, though, because I think Mama loved them as much as I did. LOL
Of course all these memories are from trips long before there was such a thing as car air conditioning. We would drive with all the windows down, the air rushing through, hair blowing all over the place. I had long hair back then, and it would get so matted and wild from the wind. Every time we stopped, there was this rush to get decent with the brushes madly combing through matted hair. Not much fun for a little girl.
I did have fun sticking my arm out the window and riding the airstream, though. I kinduv understand why dogs love to stick their heads out of car windows, Just putting my arm out was fun. Now I was never allowed to put it straight out, the way some people did, but it was OK to surf alond the windstream beside the car, dipping up and down in big swoops, and that was fun enough.
I whiled away many an hour, counting cows, watching creeks go by, hand surfing, watching for Burma Shave signs, and keeping a vigilant lookout for the billboards that would alert me to some interesting side trip or the beloved Stuckeys or Dairy Queen I could beg for.
nostalgia, childhood memories, road trip, car games, Burma Shave
25 comments:
oh how lovely your memories are. i was just thinking that i hope your family knows how much you treasure them. it is great that you have all this documented. it will something of incredible emotional value. we should all do that for our families.
I usually tell Daddy what I'm blogging about, although he has absolutely no concept of what a blog is, and we talk about our memories together over breakfast.
As far as I know nobody else in the family reads the blog, but it will be here for them if they reach a time in their lives when such things are important to them. At least you're enjoying it, Chana LOL!
You remind me of all the little things I have forgotten, in my middle years.
There was nothing better than holding my arm out the window, sometimes my head too! I remember my eyes streaming tears, hair whipping about. Yes, I had long hair, too. And it was always a mess when we stopped.
Thanks so much...there can't be anything better for me than a trip down memory lane.
Ooooo, you were lucky! My parents were way too protective to let me put my head out the window. But I had fun, anyway.
The very act of trying to think of something to post about is forcing me to pull up the little things, rather than just the events themselves. I've really enjoyed this whole process. If someone else reads my memories, and it prompts them to think of their memories ... so much the better!
As far as I know, we never have had Stuckeys or Burma Shave up here, but plenty of Dairy Queens.
According to a site I researched, anvilcloud, Burma Shave started in Minnisota, so it's a little surprising it never made it north of the border. Stuckey's was strickly in the South, and I guess it's no surprise that Canada had Dairy Queens way back then.
LOVE your blog!!! What wonderful memories-you had a blessed childhood. I, too, remember Stuckey's, Dairy Queen, & Burma Shave signs. I still like to hit the DQ whenever I can find one. THey are fast disappearing in this part of the country so we have to road trip to find one. I miss Burma Shave signs--they were great! STuckeys have disappeared, too, at least around here. The Russell Stover stores are just not the same.
Have a wonderful weekend...& keep sharing the memories.
Blessed be...
PS I came over from Chana's.
Hi every time I come here I get something nice to read.To day I liked reading this post memory's Hmmm
Wish you well
You make me blush, sleeplessinoklahoma!! I'm glad you enjoy reading about my childhood, although it really doesn't seem all that unusual to me.
I think there's still one Stuckey's off the Interstate in North Alabama, but they used to be all over the place.
Hmmmm thanks, zingtrail, I took a look at your blog and liked it, too!! Hope to see you again sometime soon.
Hi Dirty Butter, still remembering fun things! There used to be a Stuckey's
between Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada. The candy, ice cream, and souvenirs are apart of my memories, too! I have to confess...when my sons started driving...I got to hand surf again!!!
LOL, Janey, I think I have gotten too grown up for my own good. I can't remember the last time I hand surfed. What with air conditioning, I never think about it, but now that you mention it, I'll have to have a go at it the next chance I get. Wheeeee!!!
I love it! Someone the same age as I am! I loved the Pecan Rolls at Stuckeys. I would eat it and then be ill afterwards. I miss the Burma Shave signs; billboards cannot compare.
What a picture you paint. I can see it all! Hair flying, arm outstretched...
Simple things can be so much fun!
A post like this does a good job of telling my age, doesn't it, Cybercelt? LOL But that's OK, I EARNED the Senior Citizen label, and I'm proud of it.
Glad you enjoyed the memory.
Considering that biking is your passion, Sharon Lynn, I can understand that wind flying through hair would be something you would enjoy.
Thanks for stopping by!
This is BLOG VILLAGE Recreation Carnival Post #8 of 25...
I loved reading through this post again! What would we do without memories?
And I think it's worthwhile to record them, Janey Loree, as things have changed so much in my lifetime. I think of things to write about a lot, but by the time I get to the computer, I've forgotten what it was I wanted to write about ROTFL!!!
Road trips without air conditioning - oh my, lol. We sure take those things for granted now.
You are so right, Crystal! I would NOT want to go back to the days of no air conditioning!!
Sounds like you have wonderful memories of childhood car journeys Rosemary! Having the wind blowing through the car is much more healthy than air con anyway! I'm visiting you from the Blog Village Recreation Carnival.
They are good memories, Naomi, and I'd hate to lose them all. That's what this blog is helping me do - remember the everyday things, as well as the big events of my life.
Waving! I'm still alive and well.
Stuckey's, huh? I always wondered what was in those pecan/walnut/peanut rolls.
Good to hear from you again, Gina. I just posted a few comments on your blog, too. Old friends should keep in touch better, shouldn't we.
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