Thursday, April 9, 2015

California here i come....

I watched a TV show yesterday, and the characters were singing 'California here I come, right back where I started from'

Brought back memories of my brother and I. Every summer our family would drive from San Diego to Richmond Virginia.  It was 5 weeks of fun (and fights). My brother was car sick ALL of the time, got bloody noses (not by me) but mostly adventures. 

Every morning, my dad would wake us up at 4 am and we'd get on the road from the motel. We'd drive until 4pm We drove Route 66.  Stopped at all of the road side things, like Stuckey's. We'd go in, and order greasy diner food, and best of all, we got to buy souvenirs! Then there was a tourist attraction The Thing (Dinosaur Bones)
The Thing
  

We saw The worlds largest Dixie Cup.  Went through the Ozarks on a 2 lane road.   We got to stay in motels, swim in their pools. I remember buying the little Cokes out of the machine.  The people we met along the way have stayed with me years afterwards. I remember meeting a lady in Arkansas with no teeth, sitting in a rocker. I was so in awe of how she just didn't have a care in the world. Cadillac Ranch in Texas. I remember mom and dad would let me order whatever i wanted on the menu when we stopped at restaurants. Each and Every time i ordered Pork Chops. To this day it's my favorite food.

 So many memories, sometimes i wish i could go back, and write it all down.

When we'd go through Arizona on the way home, we'd finally hit the sign that said Welcome to California!. And with that, we'd start singing that song. Perfect Ending to yet another wonderful cross country trip. those trips ended when i was a Senior in high school. I miss road trips. My husband and my daughter don't care for them. 

Here's the lyrics to the song: (originally sung by Al Jolson).

California, here I come
Right back where I started from
Where bowers and flowers bloom in the sun
Each morning at dawning birdies sing and everything
A sun kissed miss said, "Don't be late"
That's why I can hardly wait
So open up those Golden Gate
California, here I come
California, here I come
Right back where I started from
Where bowers and flowers bloom in the sun
Each morning at dawning birdies sing and everything
A sun kissed miss said, "Don't be late"
That's why I can hardly wait
So open up those Golden Gate
California, here I come





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