My first trip was bitter sweet. Our Father had been killed in an auto accident in April and Mom suddenly found herself a widow with 6 children. 5 of us were in school with youngest brother only 4 years old. Mom knew she needed to look forward and make plans all of us were hurting and learning to deal with the loss. Mom used some of the life insurance money to purchase a used FAN trailer that slept 5 people. using all available space to sleep we managed. Mom got the trailer and we all went to school parking lot on a sunday morning so she could practice turning, backing and manuovering the trailer. We took off for Michigan once school was out that summer, Mom had friends to visit there who had 5 children and we got along with them great. The picture my oldest sister took and I’m one of the twins. We also visited Mooseheart Ill. We didn’t know it at the time but it was the main reason for the trip. Mom had to look at the ‘what if” picture We had grandparents and two aunts who were good support for her but no one would be able to take on 6 children if something should suddenly happen to her. She made arrangements with Mooseheart Children’s Center that we would go there if something happened to her. That was 1957 and I’m happy to say that Mom lived well into her 80’s and we quickly outgrew that small FAN and got an 8 sleeper having many more adventures. My husband and I own a 5th wheel and have traveled cross country a few times with wonderful happy memories.
Submitted by Marcia Maslyn of Clifton Springs, NY as a part of the RV Centennial Celebration “Share Your Favorite RV Memory” contest.
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Nell Covington
Wonderful story. What a brave mother you had. Glad you had many years to travel and build memories together.
Bruce shand
Great post! Thanks for sharing your very personal experience. The tow vehicle looks to be a 55 Ford like we had. That and the “look” of the photo brings back family memories for me even though camping wasn’t really part of our experience.
Dan Bowles
I thought my mother was the only one who would attempt something like this. In 1957 it was not the norm for a woman to travel alone with a carload of kids but my Mom drove 4 or us from Ohio to Florida to visit an aunt and uncle. This story certainly brought back that memory and many more. Women’s lib had nothing on these women! I can still hear her admonitions to the packed back seat of a ’46 Ford, “Don’t make me stop this car and come back there!………”. Thanks for reviving the memories.
Russ Dunn
Hi and thank you so much for this short story. It brought such tears to my eyes. My life experiences are nothing like yours, but I have such strong hope for the memories of my children that will be similar to yours.