by Sandra Quevedo

Created on: April 12, 2011   Last Updated: April 14, 2011

Family bonding and road trips can only be equated in my mind to the beautiful lyrics of of Louis Armstrong wonderful all time favorite tune What a wonderful World!

Repeatedly I will tell people, my childhood memories are priceless.  I feel very lucky my siblings and I all were able to share these!  More than anything else, being "barren" myself at the ripe age of 47 (LOL), I love that both of my brothers have not only continued to make these a very important part of their lives, but have made it a valued family tradition, almost a handed-down legacy ... as they watch their own offspring’s walk into the sunset as ...we all did.  

What can I say...childhood road trips and extended family bonding sessions are what have made me into whom or should I say what I am today.  I would like to ask for a round of “applause” for both mom and dad …please take a bow!   No doubt, trying at times (for them) a lot of fun for us, these unplanned, last minute vacation savers could prove to be a nightmare – no matter how I translate it now (44 years later) through my “rose-colored” Gucci shades!  Mind you, there were a total of six of us!  YES, six children (all under the age of six) all but one year apart – you do the math 6-5-4-3-2 & a 1 year old.   My brothers and I accounted for three, along with my first cousins who completed the little league soccer team, oh yeah and did I fail to mention that the hormones were evenly split three "belles" at the helm (girls 5,3,and 2) and the remainder made up by little cowboys. 

My father, the ultimate "yuppie" back then because of his profession (a veterinarian,) owned what I think was a CJ5 hard top JEEP.  This little "matchbox" like beauty, hard to come by in those days, had all the bells and whistles and was our little gateway to heaven on most weekends. This little jeep turned into a little camper! The most efficient driving machine!

With the jeep packed to the max, the kids, the dog, the toys, and all the beachwear we could find ... my father drove for 2-4 hours each way most Friday nights (in the Summer) so we can enjoy some of the most beautiful BEACHESin the world!  The scenery was never the same, my parents were very adventurous people! Heck, they were right down scary now that I think about it...but nevertheless for the most part VERY responsible! 

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