Quilts and Reunions

I've been distracted.  And I don't have time to be distracted!  But today I finished the six lap quilts that I had promised I would finish before our road trip.  What was I thinking??  A special thank you to Susan and Jenny who each motivated me to get it done.  Now I can concentrate on all the trip preparations.

Since the route of our trip has specifically been chosen to visit the places of my dad's youth and my grandparents' immigration to the US, it is very ironic that the Ramey family reunion is being held while we're away and I can't go.  Grandpa Simon Ramey was born and raised in South Carolina and all of his ancestors were from the South.  About 10 years ago when my genealogy obsession began, I left a question on a genealogy site.  A year or more later, I received a response and, yes, I had located my dad's family -- first cousins!  It turns out that the South Carolina relatives have been holding family reunions annually for more than 50 years!  My dad would have LOVED it.  Anyway, I'm curious about Grandpa's cross-country relocation to Idaho ... I think next June we'll head to Oconee County.

L-o-n-g To-Do List

In ten days we need to be ready to jump in the Explorer, hook up the camper, and head out of town.  Before that can happen, we first have to make lots and lots of lists:  clothes; cooking/eating/grilling; linens; grooming/meds/sunscreen/first aid kit; umbrellas and lawn chairs; maps and road atlas and touring books, passport (don't forget!!); and computer and phone stuff -- like how to charge the computer in the truck and how to use the phone as a wifi spot for the computer. (Here's hoping that Verizon truly does have coverage nearly everywhere in this big country!)  We also need to figure out how to change tires on the truck and camper (just in case) and how all the camper systems work -- like how to light the stove and water heater and how to operate the waste dump system (must remember rubber gloves!)

And of course there's all the things that need to be done at the house before we leave, like installing the drip watering system for the garden, killing those ants that apparently want to eat our deck, canceling the newspaper, and of course leaving the house spotless.  And did I mention the quilting project I need to finish this week?!

Yes, we are busy, but it's a good busy.

What’s the big idea?

Decades ago, Charlie and I were inspired by a comedy entitled, “Lost in America”  to one day travel the country in an RV.  Well, this summer we start that adventure!  Follow us as we visit Ellis Island, Cape Cod, Maine, Ben & Jerry’s, Canada, and make our way as far West as Idaho and Montana, and back through Iowa to Maryland.  Along the way, we will visit places important to my ancestors’ arrival from Ireland and Belgium, my grandfather’s contribution to Glacier National Park, my father’s youth and family tragedies, and my first generation Irish American grandmother.  Beyond the genealogy aspect, this trip is also just a chance to have a great time together — no kids, no dogs.  Wish us luck!!

Charlie and the camper on its maiden trip home.  It's a Starcraft AR-One 15RB.