Typical Alaska scenery - float plane on Fish Lake

In general, I have a pretty good sense of direction. When I was about nine years old, I was the navigator for my dad, as our family moved from the state of Georgia, in the southeastern part of the United States, to Texas, where none of us had ever been before.

Before you get the idea this trip was only a matter of staying on the right freeway, or turnpike, this was in 1954, long before anyone had ever heard of freeway in the area where we were traveling. Sure, there were some long, straight roads, and lots of really winding mountain roads, but there were also many intersecting roads here and there, many in unpopulated places, and others in cities which had lots of heavy traffic. I really had to keep my eyes on the road many, many times, for a wrong turn could mean we could runout of gas, or break down, in the middle of nowhere, and be stranded. My dad was an adventurous man, and not afraid of very many things. But here, he was traveling with his wife, who was not in the best of health, as well as a small toddler, my younger sister, Ramona, who was still not walking, as well as me and my older sister, who was about 11 or so...

When we later traveled to California, from El Paso, Texas, I also did the navigating. No, there were no freeways along that route in 1955, either. Only when we were descending the mountains entering Los Angeles, did I see my very first freeway (I-5). My eyes were pouring from the irritation from smog, which was then, much worse then it is nowadays. Immediately, I hated California, and though I can't say I really hate it now, I do not love it. I have now lived in southern California since August 25, 1955.

If I could, I would gladly leave for parts with much less population, and plenty of open land and skies, with mountains near enough that I could go up, up , up, whenever the mood may strike. I love driving mountain roads. I love riding horses along long trails that may lead someplace full of adventure, or no place in particular.

Even now, and practically every place my late husband and I drove, I was also the navigator, even planning out his trips, turn by turn, if necessary when he went someplace unfamiliar to him without me, and our daughters.

In the mid 1980s, I took off on my own, without even a map, and headed for Las Vegas, which was the first time I had ever been there. On my return trip several days later, i decided to return via the back roads, which also included long stretches of hot, dry desert roads across wide valleys of desert.

I have never really had the time to do so, but if I had, I would have thought nothing about heading northwestward to see Alaska. That yearning still strikes every now and then, such as today, just writing about this.

However, health and neck and back problems preclude that adventure. Who know, maybe one day, I can take one of those lovely Alaskan cruises, and, ...

Time will tell, I guess

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