Family Vacations
Family Vacations
Dear Laura, 3-20-87
When you were 19 months old, we went on a Spring Break vacation. You were a pretty good little traveler.
First, we went to Hot Springs, Arkansas. We found out that babies were not allowed at the horse races, so your Daddy went to the track alone. You and I stayed in the hotel. You enjoyed a long nursery nap, and I enjoyed reading the best-selling book, Communion (about aliens). We spent two nights in Hot Springs, and you acted really weird about taking baths. You loved taking baths at home, but you did not want to use the strange hotel tub.
We traveled on to Memphis, Tennessee, to see Graceland, Elvis Presley's mansion. I strapped you in the papoose pack (front carrier), and some other tourists commented on how good you were. We had a scenic view of the Mississippi River as we dined, and we saw the most beautiful rainbow. After two nights in Memphis, we traveled on to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It's a cha, a mining little town in the mountains, with such lovely scenery. You were very content riding in the carrier on your Daddy's back as we went shopping in the quaint little downtown shops and to Onyx Cave.
You were dressed in a frilly dress with your hair up in curls and a bow when we went on a very elegant dinner train. We had not really stopped long enough during our sightseeing for you to take a nap. You were so fussy on the train. Finally, I decided that a crying baby was causing more disruption than a nursing baby would, so you immediately calmed down when I nursed you at the table. A minute later, the waiter came to refill our glasses and said, "Well, that was quick." He couldn't tell that you were nursing; he just thought you had gone to sleep. I finished my gourmet dinner in peace, using my left hand.
Back at the hotel, you didn't want to remove your frilly dress to put on
your pajamas. You picked up a glass of water, and you were about to spill it on your Daddy's side of the bed. I emphatically said, "No, no, no!" and grabbed the glass. You said, "No, no, no!" for the rest of the trip whenever you emphatically wanted something.
After two nights in Eureka Springs, we traveled home, and you were happy to climb into your own bathtub. We'd had a wonderful time, but it's always nice to come home.
Love,
Mother
Dear Laura, 12-26-87
In 1975, while I was attending Texas Wesleyan College, I met Debbie Van Hemert. I remember one of our first conversations, where we found out that both our "guys" had corvettes. In December 1976, she married David Larson. The four of us have been good friends since.
We gave each other baby showers. Debbie was so excited when we told her we were expecting.
Debbit and David went to Disney World on their honeymoon. David, a photographer at the time, took a beautiful picture of Cinderella's Castle, which hangs in their living room. They enjoyed Disney World so much that they have returned many times.
Today, the day after Christmas, we are traveling with them (each in our own cars) to guess where - Disney World!
Love,
Mother
Dear Laura, 1-02-88
We arose early on December 28, 1987, to beat the crowds at Disney World, but they were already there, thousands and thousands of people. We later heard that over seventy thousand attended that day. It was so crowded that they actually closed the parking lots later in the day.
Debbie and David bought annual passes. We bought four day passes at $96 apiece. We rode Kara's favorite ride first, "It's a Small World." It's a beautiful sight of (animatronics) children from all over the world singing "It's a Small World."
Disney World is such a beautiful place. Every inch is landscaped, with lovely flowers and bushes shaped as animals.
We saw wonderful shows, dancing Disney characters, and fantastic movies. We were very impressed by our first 3-D movie. It was like you could just reach out and touch the kite, and many people were trying. You seemed to enjoy it, although you refused to wear the 3-D glasses. We also saw movies in circular vision, quite amazing.
We visited EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). We rode Space Ship Earth, and Kara called it Casa Manana.
Some of the countries represented were China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Japan, and Germany.
Our favorite event was Captain EO, the 3-D science fiction movie with Michael Jackson.
You seemed to enjoy the rides, but you thought the pirates in the Peter Pan ride at Magic Kingdom were a little too scary, so you sat on the floor of the flying boat and didn't watch. That's the way it was on other rides, too. You didn't cry; you'd just sink to the floor during the scary parts.
We rented a stroller, but your Daddy carried you a lot because the strollers weren't allowed in line or on rides.
We celebrated New Year's Eve at EPCOT and watched fantastic fireworks over the lake.
We spent five nights in Orlando, Florida, at Wilson World. It was a neat hotel with a swimming pool on the main level and a glass elevator behind a waterfall.
One evening, we went to a fancy steamboat on the river for dinner.
As we travel with the Larsens and stop for food or restrooms, you and Kara run to each other, and you say "Hi, Kara," hug, then walk hand in hand. It is the cutest thing.
Last night we stayed at Howard Johnson's in Mobile, Alabama. Tonight we'll be home.
Love,
Mother