My Pioneer Trek Day 11 and 12

 

Beautiful Lake Tahoe!

I set out Wednesday morning headed for Lake Tahoe, the place I refer to when asked where I grew up.  It isn't completely accurate but that's a better answer than "Oh, around"

Sonoma Height Elementary School

Since this report has been chronological thus far, however, I won't get ahead of myself.  I will admit that a drive across Nevada is not exactly the height of adventure.  At least not for me, I did stop in Winnemucca though.  Two of my 3 children were born while we lived in Winnemucca and I couldn't resist driving around to see what I could remember and what was still standing, etc.  It made me feel a little sad, though I'm not sure why.  First, of course, I looked up the house we lived in.  It is easy to find.  It is on the corner of Bell and Harmony - a musical address.  I didn't take a picture.  It was painted a truly horrendous color of green, obviously a DIY job.  The paint job was awful and there were several motorcycles and broken vehicles parked outside.  AND the yard was beyond dead.  I laid the sod in that yard myself.  I drove my sedan out to the sod farm and loaded up as much as the shocks would bear into my trunk, drove to my house, unloaded the sod and then went back for more until I had enough to cover the yard. Then the kids and I laid the sod down.  My husband was on a fishing trip.  He came home to a transformed yard. It is a very small, old house and I didn't really expect it to be a showplace but I really didn't want to preserve a picture of what it looks like now.  Pictured are some of our old haunts.  Anna and Brenda went to Sonoma Heights Elementary School.  Anna had a memorable birthday party at Round Table Pizza.  Brenda had a particularly memorable birthday party at the city park across from the house on Bell street but it was a golf course right next to the expanded hospital.  Guess doctors in Winnemucca don't have enough to do.
Most of our grocery shopping was at Raley's.  From the outside it looks just the same to me.  The pharmacy looks nearly exactly but they now have an in store cafe which I'm sure did not exist!

 For "emergency" needs and for the best chorizos you've ever eaten we went to Uptown market - one block away from home.  The owners were friends of ours but I didn't go in.  I can't remember their names right now and I'm not assertive enough to risk it. 

 From there I headed for Lake Tahoe.  The drive was uneventful, except gas in Reno was a shocker - a dollar more than I paid in Minnesota!  Here is a current picture of the High School I attended.  It is bigger than it was ;-)  I graduated in a class of 27.  We had 300 students in the Junior High and High School combined.

Day 12 - Billy hauled out pictures and I started scanning.  Mom talked and we reminisced.  It was really fun.  Tina is hard at work arranging flowers but Billy (my brother) worked extra hours so he could be off work while I am here.  I feel so loved!!

Pictured here is my sister Brenda and baby brother Billy.  circa 1965

My Pioneer Trek, Day 10

Tuesday, Day 10

 So, I arrived Monday evening at my aunt and uncle's house.  What a lovely place they have.  Darrel's ranch has belonged to his family for 5 generations! I had a room with a view and my very own bathroom.   Aunt Carol had a photo album with every picture labeled!  On Tuesday I spent 8 hours scanning those photos.  Carol even took framed photos apart so I could scan those.  The whole time I was commandeering the greatest portion of her generous kitchen table she was making sure I stayed well fed physically and emotionally.  Aunt Carol shared family stories and information nearly nonstop.  I could write a book!  SO much fun!

My Pioneer Trek Day 7, 8 & 9

Saturday!! Day 7
Well, my Dad was a really good sport about this whole mission I am on. Of course I started talking about pictures/stories as soon as I arrived on Friday night - while he was trying to feed me.  He kinda flapped his hands a little and I could see he had his reservations about this project but he rallied and dragged out a lovely pile of treasures. I've posted a few interesting pics that I will not explain at this point - "Keep 'em guessing" is my motto.  I got so excited that my eyes popped open at 4:30 AM and I started scanning photos. 

Dad and Diane pushed food and drink at me at regular intervals.  They were a great tag team for identifying faces, places, and stories.  My father shared many interesting things about himself and his parents and grandparents.  In the meantime they pretty much waited on me hand and foot.  I managed to scan more than 500 photos by noon. 

Then we went to lunch at Chuck-a-Rama.That was a lot of fun.  We yacked and people watched and I ate too much.  ;-)
 Somewhere in there I also managed to get my laundry done - Thank you kindly parents.  And, no I didn't let my mom do my laundry even though she offered. I'd have to give back my grown-up card!

Sunday, Day 8.
I went to church with longtime (seems almost a lifetime) friend, Sue Brown.  Sue and her husband Mike have been the kinds of friends who pick up where you left off even when you haven't had contact for years.  We occasionally "meet" on facebook but that is minimal.  We had a lot of catching up to do and being able to attend church and meet the people who are a part of her life was a great way to do that.  On the spiritual side of things I need to note that I had 2 purposes when I set out on my Trek.  The first was to gather family history, connect with my ancestors, and reconnect with family and friends after finding myself disconnected through distance and laziness.  Then the second purpose was to heal my bruised soul after having a very difficult winter.  At this point I can't remember the specific talks or lessons (except the Relief Society lesson but that is a blog entry for another day) but I do remember the calm feeling of belonging and acceptance.  Both of these emotions have been battered by circumstance and neglect over recent years.  It was indeed a healing balm - thanks Sue (and Sue's Ward).

Monday, Day 9
 




Monday morning I headed for Wendover. 

I took a few pictures - and if a picture is worth a thousand words you don't need anymore of mine.

Lunch at someplace the locals refer to as the "Metro" it was actually named something else but the food was amazing and the company better.

 Next we went back to the Draper's house for cake, courtesy of Jessie's talents.


Happy Birthday Sara!

 While the kids ate Smurf cake and watched some cartoons the adults went through photographs.  Of course I didn't take photos of the photo perusal but I think I should have.  It was a little like Christmas.  Everyone sitting around with their own little pile of treasures saying "Oh look!  What do you suppose that was about?  Do you remember this?" and "Wow! I didn't know that!"

After going through the pictures I drove to Rush Valley to see Aunt Carol and Uncle Darrell.

But that's a story for another day.