The Lope: Mother's Day

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Mother's Day

I'm very fortunate to have a mother who has always instilled a love of travel.


These last few years, My brother, my best friend and/or I have driven my mom on trips from Joplin to see her brother and sister-in-law in Phoenix. Ace found his western persona - and half of his wardrobe - on the Route 66 portions of such trips. Here's mom at one of her favorite places on the route, La Posada, in May of 2005.



When my brother and I were teenagers in the 1970s and the Phoenix relatives lived in Denver, mom would let us take every exit off I-70 to check out the railroad acton at the local grain elevator. I took my very first picture - a polaroid, no less - on one of those trips in 1975.

Oh, this is also La Posada - March of 2007.



I think this is the "haven't you already shot me here?" look.



This year, my uncle passed away and Arizona was a sad trip. Fortunately, it is our nature to revel in a few moments of pleasant discovery; this was one of them.



Mom gives thumbs-up to the Circle RB Guest Lodge in Mesa, Arizona, a well-preserved 1949 motor court.



My Cousin David has photo of her, taken a bit before the others on this page. How utterly retro.



The "you're not going to shoot one more angle of this old tourist trap?" look. This was during a stop at Meteor City. Hey, there's always one more angle or juxtaposition, ya know?



Ah, now this makes her happy. A thread of comforting continuity on our Arizona trips is dinner at La Posada. (February, 2008).

We are at least part what our parents made us, and I lucked out in that regard.

Thanks Mom, for allowing Goodland, Hays and Salina to be places of dusty magic where Rock Island streamliners and Union Pacific GP30s basked in their sunsets....and for not screaming when I needed (needed, I tell ya!) one more shot of Two Guns...or Twin Arrows...or The Jackrabbit Trading Post...or...

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a sweet lady. This is so nice; more people should spend time with their mothers.

Mon May 12, 07:41:00 AM  
Blogger Gunnar and Sherry said...

This is wonderful. You're lucky to have such a nice mom and she's lucky to have you. Some of my best little kid memories are of roadtrips taken with my family. My mom kept everything running and packed a mean cooler. Here's to all the great moms out there!

Mon May 12, 07:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Outstanding - one of my favorite posts! Thanks for sharing. May you all have many more road trips together.

Mon May 12, 07:26:00 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home