A visit to California
1. We went to Disneyland with Morgan and pretended to be mechanical robots waving at tourists on a ride.
2. Steve bought trinkets for two or three girlfriends on the same family vacation.
3. We stopped to see one of Steve’s girlfriends along the way.
4. We arrived in Los Angeles without Morgan’s unlisted phone number, and he didn’t know we were coming.
5. Steve sprinting along side the car to judge his speed.
6. Listening to Mom and Dad complain about Steve reading Sports Illustrated instead of watching the scenery pass by.
Trip to Biloxi, MS
7. Dad burped very loudly into the drivethrough window server's face at the Burger King in Vicksburg, MS.
8. Steve and I made great sand castles in Biloxi.
Taking Steve to Vermont by way of Canada
9. After a long day in the car and lots of family vacation tension, Mom and Dad drop the kids off at the campground and run back into town to get pizza. When they get back, we are role playing each other. We wait to see how long it takes them to figure out what we are doing and who we are acting like.
10. I’m reading Of Mice and Men in the back seat, sandwiched in between Brian and Steve. I finish the book and am sobbing. Everyone wants to know who did what to me and why I’m crying. It turns out it was just my sad book. I have a hard time shaking off the blues.
11. We’re saving money and enjoying the local scenery by stopping and buying bread and peanut butter and jelly and having a picnic in park. We go ahead and squeeze in some frisbee golf on the fly.
12. Steve and Brian map out the way to our host’s house in a suburb of NYC. Mom and Lisa decide that a detour through the city is a good idea. Soon we are driving around Bedford Stuy with a big orange burrito on top of the car, watching the giant rats run around garbage cans. Mom suggests we stop and ask for directions.
13. Steve and Dad and Brian take a shower together on two Canadian quarters.
14. Our bedtime story was one by Witold Gombrowicz, which Steve demanded that each of us take turns reading aloud in the tent.
Lisa goes to Spain
15. Getting off the plane to find my brother unrecognizable with short hair and short beard.
16. Writing short stories with Steve in Morocco—we slept on a mattress that felt like it was three skinny men . . or something like that.
17. Sleeping at opposite ends of Steve’s small bed —head to toe; very brotherly/sisterly.
18. Getting a reading list from Steve before my trip—including Ernest Hemingway, a biography of Queen Isabella and a book called The Spaniards.
19. Getting advice from Steve about how to not look American while in Madrid (Wear drab colors, wear sunglasses, do not wear shorts, tennis shoes or anything like a fanny pack, stay away from t-shirts).
20. Going to the bullfights with Steve—I read an Ernest Hemingway book to prepare.
21. Going to Santander with Steve — we took pictures of young lovers actually LOVING eachother on the beach. Scandalous.
The Desert Southwest: Maria Jose’s First Family Vacation
22. I busted my lip open on an Indian reservation in Utah and we have to drive forever to get to the emergency room and we got separated from other members of our party
23. In order for us to truly appreciate the landscape through which we will be travelling, Steve gives us a reading list to prepare for a vacation through Kansas, including In Cold Blood.
24. The rain washing us away at Monument Valley.
25. Steve and MJ arguing in the back seat in Spanish.
26. The indescribable joy of putting a tent up with Dad’s help.
Reminiscing with old friends in Brownwood
27. Arriving in Brownwood without Ruth and Gene’s address or unlisted number.
28. Posing for the family photo on Ruth and Gene’s porch in Brownwood.
Family recitations and musical numbers
29. Dick Nichols
30. To Market To Market
31. What did Delaware?
32. This Old Man
33. Bentons on the Go
34. I Wish I Was Naked and Drunk
35. Old Black Water on the way to Biloxi
36. Help!
37. Dad’s hot
38. Lida Rose
39. APOUINA
40. PWALIGOW
1. We went to Disneyland with Morgan and pretended to be mechanical robots waving at tourists on a ride.
2. Steve bought trinkets for two or three girlfriends on the same family vacation.
3. We stopped to see one of Steve’s girlfriends along the way.
4. We arrived in Los Angeles without Morgan’s unlisted phone number, and he didn’t know we were coming.
5. Steve sprinting along side the car to judge his speed.
6. Listening to Mom and Dad complain about Steve reading Sports Illustrated instead of watching the scenery pass by.
Trip to Biloxi, MS
7. Dad burped very loudly into the drivethrough window server's face at the Burger King in Vicksburg, MS.
8. Steve and I made great sand castles in Biloxi.
Taking Steve to Vermont by way of Canada
9. After a long day in the car and lots of family vacation tension, Mom and Dad drop the kids off at the campground and run back into town to get pizza. When they get back, we are role playing each other. We wait to see how long it takes them to figure out what we are doing and who we are acting like.
10. I’m reading Of Mice and Men in the back seat, sandwiched in between Brian and Steve. I finish the book and am sobbing. Everyone wants to know who did what to me and why I’m crying. It turns out it was just my sad book. I have a hard time shaking off the blues.
11. We’re saving money and enjoying the local scenery by stopping and buying bread and peanut butter and jelly and having a picnic in park. We go ahead and squeeze in some frisbee golf on the fly.
12. Steve and Brian map out the way to our host’s house in a suburb of NYC. Mom and Lisa decide that a detour through the city is a good idea. Soon we are driving around Bedford Stuy with a big orange burrito on top of the car, watching the giant rats run around garbage cans. Mom suggests we stop and ask for directions.
13. Steve and Dad and Brian take a shower together on two Canadian quarters.
14. Our bedtime story was one by Witold Gombrowicz, which Steve demanded that each of us take turns reading aloud in the tent.
Lisa goes to Spain
15. Getting off the plane to find my brother unrecognizable with short hair and short beard.
16. Writing short stories with Steve in Morocco—we slept on a mattress that felt like it was three skinny men . . or something like that.
17. Sleeping at opposite ends of Steve’s small bed —head to toe; very brotherly/sisterly.
18. Getting a reading list from Steve before my trip—including Ernest Hemingway, a biography of Queen Isabella and a book called The Spaniards.
19. Getting advice from Steve about how to not look American while in Madrid (Wear drab colors, wear sunglasses, do not wear shorts, tennis shoes or anything like a fanny pack, stay away from t-shirts).
20. Going to the bullfights with Steve—I read an Ernest Hemingway book to prepare.
21. Going to Santander with Steve — we took pictures of young lovers actually LOVING eachother on the beach. Scandalous.
The Desert Southwest: Maria Jose’s First Family Vacation
22. I busted my lip open on an Indian reservation in Utah and we have to drive forever to get to the emergency room and we got separated from other members of our party
23. In order for us to truly appreciate the landscape through which we will be travelling, Steve gives us a reading list to prepare for a vacation through Kansas, including In Cold Blood.
24. The rain washing us away at Monument Valley.
25. Steve and MJ arguing in the back seat in Spanish.
26. The indescribable joy of putting a tent up with Dad’s help.
Reminiscing with old friends in Brownwood
27. Arriving in Brownwood without Ruth and Gene’s address or unlisted number.
28. Posing for the family photo on Ruth and Gene’s porch in Brownwood.
Family recitations and musical numbers
29. Dick Nichols
30. To Market To Market
31. What did Delaware?
32. This Old Man
33. Bentons on the Go
34. I Wish I Was Naked and Drunk
35. Old Black Water on the way to Biloxi
36. Help!
37. Dad’s hot
38. Lida Rose
39. APOUINA
40. PWALIGOW
3 comments:
Some of these memories are in my list of family activities. They still bring lots of laughter. We were a happy bunch most of the time.
I, too have traveled with the Bentons on several occasions; I have determined that, to the Bentons, there is no such thing and absolutely no need for something call "logistics" for which Gene has a passion. This makes a trip (or meeting, or ride to the airport, or visit) a very interesting thing because, well, anything can happen! My daughter, Jen (who truly believes she can make--as in create--time) is much the same. I think in some past life, Carolyn tried to introduce the concept of logistics, but soon gave up this foolish practice since no one else was the least interested. It is my further belief that Steve has tried, with some measure of success, to pay attention to logistics. AND I can scarcely believe my ears when Jim and Carolyn tell me what time they leave for work on a school day! I also hear things from time to time which cause me to believe that others in the family have embraced the idea of logistics.
Regarding the BW trip that you mentioned... I was very, very worried. Here's what finally occurred to enable you to find us. Jim called one of his students and that student broke into J&C's house to get the address; then Jim called the student back (on a pay phone before cell phones)and his student had retrieved our phone number as well as location instructions, etc.
It's one of the reasons why we love all of you so much.
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