Vacation

Growing up vacations was a time to go see family. Whether it was in Floydada, Houston, Haskell or Hatch, NM. That’s what we did.

We’d go spend time with mom’s cousins, aunts and uncles, and more. Several times, we’d head to Payson, AZ up at the cabin where I spent most of my time in the creek trying to catch a fish by hand…trust me, it doesn’t work. I remember Aunt Jody making French toast for us for breakfast…to this day, I still don’t like French toast that much!

The best movie of all time!

One vacation to Phoenix, my brothers, Laton and Keith, mom’s cousins and I stood in line to watch a new movie…1977 was the year and Star Wars

was the movie…and I’ve been mesmerized and hooked ever since. That series is Tucker’s fav by the way. I also learned how to play poker…for money on that vacation! I think I took about $20 from mom’s cousin Dennis. Maybe I should go to Vegas!

In Hatch, we’d skinny-dip in the irrigation ditch, play in the barn, run around the house and climb the trees like the days would never end. They didn’t end until someone called us in to get ready for bed. I remember playing the barn while the “adults” prepared the peppers for the market…playing was a lot more fun than working!

We always drove on vacation…I can remember only once that we flew. Driving in the station wagon or Dad’s favorite, International Travelall (yes, it was a Jeep-want-to-be) was the 70’s-way to travel. We’d “camp” out in the back to stretch out. Amazingly, three boys can fit side-by-side in the back of one and keep from the long arms of mom and dad when we were misbehaving (which we never did). We would pack lunches or stuff to eat along the way and we would make frequent stops at the little rest stops along the way.

We didn’t have video games to keep our attention. We didn’t have seat belts. We didn’t have much but we had each other…playing catch or playing cowboys & Indians…it passed the time away.

Kids at the Excalibur Lake
(we didn't see the Lady there!)

Taking vacation with my kids is an adventure…as little Curry’s keeping their attention was difficult at best. These days as a dad to two teenagers, they are eager to venture off but they also need their “down” time.

Kids at Paddington Station, London

We’ve taking vacations to Paris, London, Dallas, Disneyworld, Garmisch, and most notably Dublin 

for St. Patrick’s Day…which was fun beyond belief. I still want to a dress kilt…don’t know why, I just want one. Taking the kids to the Munich and Rome zoos was an adventure. In Rome, Tucker was just four and didn’t like to walk much but once at the zoo, there was no stopping those two little feet from running all over the place! He wore us out.

So back in April, I asked the kids what they wanted to do this year for vacation. I gave them the option of Disneyland in LA or Colorado…they surprisingly chose Colorado. They would rather chill and go fishing than spending hours in lines to get on a ride.

The cabin of adventure in South Fork, CO

When you plan on vacations, ask your kids…sometimes they would rather spend time with you instead of going someplace “you” think they want to go.

Spending time with my kids is a blessing. I don’t get to spend very much time with them but when I do, I try to make the most of it.