Saturday, November 27, 2010

Happy birthday, Leith

Leith and me in the "way back" of our awesome 1961 Chevy station wagon, circa 1964.

Today is my brother Leith's birthday and a fellow could not ask for a better sibling. He's my "big" brother, and although I'm a little bigger than he is physically, I've always seen him as a much bigger man than me. Roadtrip-wise, we've had many fun and funny shared experiences, especially on the long trips my family would take driving from Connecticut to Florida to visit my grandparents when we were young. Those trips left an indelible image on me and I'm sure my love of long driving trips today comes from those journeys we took when I was a kid. Back then, he and I would ride around in the back of our giant Ford or Chevy station wagon, with the backseat folded down! In today's era of seat belts, airbags and child fortification, it's amazing to think of the free reign we had within a car going 65 miles per hour (with a dog and cat in tow, no less). We always went to Florida in the summer, too, so all the car windows were down all the time. This wind tunnel effect would drive me insane today but back then it didn't seem to bother us at all. It did cause the lid of our Spirograph set to disengage itself from its box and fly out the window, completely on its own mind you, somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region, though. Leith and I both witnessed this aberration and still laugh about it today... just one of the many great memories of growing up with a great brother. Happy birthday, Leith...a tip-o-the hat and thanx!

8 comments:

rg coleman said...

Team, your fun site has been linked to ‘Streaming, yet another RV blog:

http://www.airstreaming.net/links-youll-like/

Thanks for the great tips on where to find the real America!
Rhonda

Gunnar and Sherry said...

Thanks so much! We're truly honored... tears of joy are "streaming" down our faces!

Bill said...

I like safety as much as the next person, but don't you miss the 60's and 70's? - Seeing you & Leith in the back of the wagon brings back memories. Seat belts? - Who needs 'em!

Gunnar and Sherry said...

That's what I say, Bill. It's fun to be a human projectile!

wendyvee said...

You two are so cute that I just want to pinch your cheeks .... which would probably be all stalker-ish and awkward ... so never mind :)

I vote that you and your brother do a reenactment photo in 2011.

Gunnar and Sherry said...

Haha Wendy! That's funny...he and I talked about that last weekend. We'd have to get my 80-year-old Mom behind the wheel too!

Anonymous said...

Was the dog that came along on those trips with you named "Yeanie" by any chance? Can you guess who this is? I really enjoy your blogs and have been lurking for quite a while, but I had to chime in on this one - both of you were awesome neighbors and friends.

Bonnie Sue, the big fat kangaroo

Gunnar and Sherry said...

Oh my God, Yeanie! I had totally forgotten that name! I'm so glad you stopped by. You can tell I have a lot of nostalgia about my childhood and you were a huge, huge part of that.

The Jolly Good third of The Normal Three.