1968: Fifty years ago and theBig California Trip.

It has been fifty years since 1968, a pivotal year in history, and in my life the. I was 12 about to go into junior high 7th grade. Back the we did not have any graduation or celebration, you just went. But in the romantic sense it was the first phase of childhood ending. There should have been something. But it really wasn't done other than a trip to the Detroit Zoo with the 6th grade class. Today they take the fifth graders (common last grade of elementary school  now) and let go of balloons...very dramatic, as a symbol of letting go of your childhood an into teenager years. I think it is more traumatic for the parents than the kids. The parents know as the children get bigger they will cost more! And hormones? Well as the Rolling Stones sang, "Here's comes your 19th nervous breakdown..."

But our parents came through with a trip to California for 3 weeks. We had a fold out camper hitched to the car. But we also would stay in a motel or two when needed for showers or "Oh My God this is hot, or scary."

The dates? My guess is the last 3 weeks of July, maybe part of the beginning of August. We went to San Diego to see uncle Lyle Bond and family for about 3 days. Most of the highlights of this trip were captured on silent home movies.

As I go along I will be writing about this trip, and 1968 general and ancillary things going on in the world. I also hope for brother Dan's input too as everyone remembers things differently as more time passes. Or as more gas passes? Cousins Steve and Cyndi will be of no help but will learn what went on with us as they was stuck in Germany with Mom, his Dad's army assignment that year.

I will spread this out over several days and entries. If I write too much in one sitting  I may forget something and have to backtrack, and also I will have too much spell check to do since I do not type very good. Like just now I spell checked and it took 10 minutes. Geez.