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TRfour · 08-26-2011, 09:09 PM

The following could be a little hard to stomach / and or swallow!

With todays economy, I couldn't imagine any self respecting family restaurant wanting to ban children under a certain age... However, some are...

I would hazard a guess that todays Moms and Dads have lost some of the ( use of the brail system, if you will ), to communicate good behavior to their siblings...

Now!.. / Waaayyyyy back when I was young, and born even younger, my parents taught me and the rest of us children just how to behave, wise? Course, it could have been the size of the herd?..

They never wanted us to get out of hand, ( so to speak ). ( And Especially Around The Dinner Table )...
Here's a pic of all of us enjoying lunch at the very exclusive Columbia Yacht Club back in 19 and 52! They loved us, and could have retired from our bill and tips alone!

Sides, have you ever tried eating lunch with a fat lip?

Only kidding, Love Terry

TRfour · 08-26-2011, 10:53 PM

Most of us love Coney Island hotDogs...

My younger sister says in this photo, ( way too late , of course ) Hold The Sauerkraut!!

Photo by Life Magazine, 19 and 52

Love, Terry

TRfour · 08-28-2011, 08:41 PM

Taken in the living room, by Life Magazine in the spring of 1951.

Of course black & white has lost favor to color, 3D, HD, WS, SS and others since then.

Must have been a movie about the Arctic on TV this day, as I had my coat on, and my nose must have been running, although there was's not any room to park it outside at the time, as I remember...

Love, Terry

TRfour · 08-31-2011, 06:22 PM

Although, we did miss some of the things that we had to leave behind, ( for lack of space ), it never stopped us from improvising when we had to!

Here's a look see...

Pic # 1. Sophisticated Front Lawn Furniture.

and BTW, when Y'all have a chance, by all means vote for this thread to put it among the top 2000d or so, would yah!

With love,

Sugarfoot · 08-31-2011, 06:45 PM

Terry, I read this thread one evening recently like a novel. It has become one of my favorite threads. Your story and the crisp B&W photos are an absolute delight! In spite of all the difficulties, the trip westward must have tons of family memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you for sharing this private glimpse into your family's journey with the Magic Carpet. And don't stop. Each post is a gem.

TRfour · 08-31-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

Terry, I read this thread one evening recently like a novel. It has become one of my favorite threads. Your story and the crisp B&W photos are an absolute delight! In spite of all the difficulties, the trip westward must have tons of family memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you for sharing this private glimpse into your family's journey with the Magic Carpet. And don't stop. Each post is a gem.

And thank you, for your comments and interest!..
I, for one was soooo lucky to have found AirStream forums, and have so graciously been accepted and allowed to post about our story here in this very Prestigious thread!

Some of my family has moved on from us, into Heaven... I was also very blessed with big ears to facilitate hearing them on occasion, during a passing thunder shower, or even during a hurricane, their still talking about what we shared together during our trip!

I am always very grateful for the more positive news, past or present!
With Love,

TRfour · 09-01-2011, 02:31 AM

Course, you'da had to be on your best game, and I don't know that even that would have helped you get a word in wedge and or other wise, let alone getting close to the flag in this next photo!

Picture # 1. A replica of the Boston Tea Party taken in smooch better times in the Magic Carpet at Stoneham Ma. by Life Magazine, 19 and 51 .
With love,

TRfour · 09-02-2011, 08:12 PM

On a rest stop, ever so closer to California...
Most of us kids were just a'itchin to find some 'O that there Gold what got learned to us being brought up in the east

, and so the oldest and most fit of us children, ( I counted eight at the time ), excavated a new valley in about twenty minutes!.. Well, sooo much for them there text books... We never even found a dang earing, let alone a gold watch!!

However, we were pretty tuckered out after and very happy to hit the road again, after that there!

With love,

TRfour · 09-02-2011, 11:01 PM

A Side note; And please put it entirely on my tab!..
Due to my poor spelling here and after ( And only because I found some spelling mistakes that were totally made by me and my keyboard in previous posts as I want to at the very least share the blame ).

Now, as most understand, spell checkers like holidays off too!.. And waaayyyy back when I was in school, I kicked butt in them spelling B's, don't ya know!

So, I installed a Mega Spell checker, on my computer!.. Now, thats the good news!

The bad news is that I just got an E-mail from them that they told me was delayed by Irene, and that there was No such place known as Nearing, California!

And further unsettling, they said, ' Either Your There, Or You Ain't ' !!

'YIKES'!!!!

Hey, I try my best! What else can I say???

OH well,.. Happy Labor Day To Everyone!!!!
With Love,

TRfour · 09-03-2011, 01:01 AM

Does this journey ever end???

I for one would give them a straight answer saying that, ' I would hope NOT '. WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!!!

With Love,

TRfour · 09-03-2011, 03:47 AM

Your Trailer?.. My thought is that you have already come to the right spot!!. Open, 24-7-365 days a week! What A Wonderful Landing ( in AirStream Forums.com )!! They even Give you free rivets, just in case you are missing any???

With Love,

TRfour · 09-05-2011, 09:15 PM

Heart rending moments for sure and also as you may imagine with a troop as large as ours, there was sort of a void in familiarity and especially among the youngest in our group!..
Again, most children get to learn their own back yards with a few bumps and bruises. Think about spreading that back yard out over 4000 + miles, and it will bring to light just how very blessed and lucky we were!!

Poor youngest brother Brynn in a freak accident, lost his balance from the second ladder rung from the floor, and just landed wrong on his left leg and broke it.
Due to an elaborate cast, that separated his left from right legs, he was totally healed and as good as new when we got out to California, and with his Doctors permission, of course.

Another casualty, although less severe along the way, younger Brother Brynn checking to see if he should need to operate on Sister Doña's knee, after she took a brief fall while playing out of doors in the yard.

Pic # 1. Being Casted, Before Hollywood? Sister Doña helping to make Brother Brynn more comfortable.

Pic # 2. Sister Doña's Wounded Knee, South Dakota.

With Love,

Fly at Night · 09-05-2011, 10:15 PM

Wow! What a great nostalgic romp.

TRfour · 09-05-2011, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

Wow! What a great nostalgic romp.

Thanks for your comment, Fly at Night!!

AND, we often did Fly at and all Night along our way west!.. I don't to this very day know how our Mom and Dad did what they did back then when they did it,

, however sleeping while standing with our Dear Lord's protective guidance I do know was somewhere in the mix! Even without traveling, just think about doing it well, with nine children, at the time...

Very clearly, Mom and Dad made it happen, the rest of us were and went on an extended ride, ( if you will ).

With Love,

TRfour · 09-06-2011, 01:38 AM

Although the early 19 and 50s have long and since removed the memories of the wagon wheeled families that moved west Long and Before the rest of us, and the only Indians we ever came across ( were us and our very own, along the way )... I can't see that much has changed since them times...

Now, The Old Old West was even older than the 19 and early 50s, as some will recall! This will go a long long ways in showing to go Y'a, just how far we've come over the many since years since then!

Yup, the O'l wagon wheels done did the trail and left little but for us to follow!
Get my drift??

With Love,

Pic # 1. Brother Brynn On The Mend

Pic # 2. Load Em Up-Move Em Out

TRfour · 09-07-2011, 09:05 PM

No name calling here,

;... We 'pulled' into a trailer park ( heading west ), to park and rest over night... Now, my Dad always made it a point to convey to the Clerk at the counter, while registering, that and how come we had a 46 foot trailer and S'more!!..

The clerk said to him, ( ' We have plenty of room for you sir, and gave my Dad the keys for lot # 24 and # 25, for the Magic Carpet '), and lot # 26 for the 19 and 48 Buick with Rascal Flats.

Well, come to find out, there was No Way to fit the Magic Carpet in them two #s 24 and #s 25 lots, and you couldn't even stuff popcorn in those either!!

So, although our Dad tried his best, the Magic Carpet suffered it's first and only bruise of our journey.

The grounds crew was summoned shortly there and after and offered to extend us a Long Long extension cord, to stay the night, out in the outback, if you will! Free of charge, don't ya know!!
With Love

ROBERTSUNRUS · 09-07-2011, 10:01 PM

Hi, I can't even imagine trying to park a 46' trailer. My total length is only 44' and that's plenty in most places. 26' trailer, 17' Lincoln, and another foot for the hitch. Also I would think that it would take two Buicks to tow that trailer. Kind of like two engines on a train.

Keep this story coming, we like it.

TRfour · 09-07-2011, 11:59 PM

Well, if I was as good look'in as you, I would have started this trip out in Hollywood...

With Love,

Bear with me now, I'll see what I can do... Over?

TRfour · 09-08-2011, 04:39 AM

The Paparazzi were around.

However, I could even imagine the interest in so huge a space, although not quite a space ship... Even before The Magic Carpet had her name painted upon, I talked some local paparazzi into letting me borrow their camera so's I could take a picture of them peeping around trying to get a better look see!

Here's what I got...

Pic # 1. Jeepers Peepers
With Love,

Erik Olson · 09-08-2011, 10:30 AM

Terry,

The Long, Long Trailer title brought me to this thread and I'm so happy that you appropriated it for an even higher use! After reading your wonderful posts and seeing the amazing Life magazine photos, I feel like I've known your lovely family for years.

Seeing the once-in-a-lifetime adventure your parents created for you - and the obvious mark it left on your brothers and sisters - has really bolstered my confidence that our recent decision to buy our own long trailer was the right one!

I pray that our kids will remember us the way you do your own parents and that we'll have the strength to give them the foundation for life that can only come with a family who works, learns and plays together!