I would like to touch on the meaning behind Memorial Day.

Sadly, to many it has just become the start of the camping or vacation season. Maybe that’s not all bad. I kind of like the idea of being remembered by the act of friends and family having a good time. Much better than tearful moping about.

Back to the subject before I take off on another tangent. Memorial Day started as a remembrance for those killed in war but expanded to all our loved ones who have passed.

Easter Sunday is this week. It’s easy to lose the meaning of the day.

Where did eggs and rabbits become involved. Theories say the early Christian church adopted certain pagan dates and customs to get more converts. Enough with the history lessons!

I’ve touched on the subject of Layman’s market foisting rabbits on unsuspecting families. Biting, scratching, pooping little bastards! The rabbits were unpleasant as well.

Dad loved the abundance of boiled eggs and a certain amount became deviled eggs. There were some remarkably ugly dye jobs and what part did vinegar play in the equation?

I promised more camping stories from the family adventures so here goes.

Another favorite campsite when I was young was Milk Lake. There used to be a lean-to type building at the lakeside with a fire pit built in. This is where Mom would work her magic over an old Coleman white gas stove. Most stoves and lanterns at the time worked off white gas and had to have the pressure pumped up by hand periodically. I can still almost smell fried potatoes, chops, and milk gravy!

More tales about childhood tales and travels.

We traveled to Kamloops BC one summer. My folks usually looked for a motel with a kitchenette so Mom could cook supper and breakfast to save money. A lot of the old motels had them back then.

I distinctly remember Dad griping about it being highway robbery that the motel cost eleven dollars a night.

I have touched on this story before but want to get it in the collection.

I’m going to jump around a bit here.

I’ve talked about the close relationships with my cousins Tim and Terri.

Tim had bought one of the first year of Toyota 4 wheel drive pickups. I think 1978 or 79. We went over to help his sister Terri and my friend Kurt move into their new house in Longview. On the way, we stopped for a meal at the Mayfield Cafe. Those Toyotas did not have a gentle suspension so when Tim hit a bump in the ditch going into the parking lot, it actually ejected the cassette tape from his player.