Childhood Memories - Car Trips

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was going on long car trips. My mom had made this big denim thing that hung on the backs of the front seats that had a bunch of pockets for my brother and sister and me to put all our books, drawing supplies, and other miscellaneous items we HAD to bring in.

I remember spending hours with a straight-edge, triangle, and a french curve drawing, of all things, train engines!  Diesel train engines.  In minute detail.  I loved trains.  Still do, actually. In between drawing, I'd read library books...lots of library books.

Another one of my favorite things was following our route on a map.  I was the navigator!  I'd carefully watch the exits, mile markers, and towns and constantly watch for the next major upcoming landmark. I always wondered about all those places we drove past.

I'd nearly forgotten about my love of maps as a kid, but the other day driving home, Dave Glover (on the aptly named Dave Glover Show) mentioned that maps were dead, and had been replaced by mapquest and the GPS.

What!?!?  This couldn't be! Suddenly my love of maps came rushing back to me, and then I realized that he was right. I didn't remember the last time I had really used a map unless it was on Mapquest or our GPS.  Then I started thinking about what one of our typical longer car trips is like these days.

Sure, the kids still bring stuff to draw with and they bring books to read.

But, we are also packing more electronics than NASA used to launch the original rockets that went TO THE MOON!

There are iPods (multiple - and multiple as in having FOUR iPods), also portable DVD players, cell phones (my oldest daughter manages to keep in constant contact with all her friends - which is critical), and multiple Nintendo DS portable video games machines.

The old standby car games like the license plate state game or travel bingo (remember those little cardboard bingo cards with the little red windows you could close when you found the item behind it?) have been replaced with three out of four of our car occupants playing Mario Party DS via the wirelessly networked Nintendo DS games.  I abstain, because I'm driving and it doesn't really seem safe for me to be kicking everyone's posteriors in the mini-games while I should be watching out for road hazards...and other cars.  In the back of the car, my wife and I are both packing our laptops.  We of course need those in case we need to remind each other of something...you have to send the email with something!

Oh, and yes, we have the GPS, too.

Comments

[Michelle Moore]

You are so right. It is amazing, even on a quick trip out-of-town for just a weekend the amount of electronic gear that must be taken. Believe you me-I am the worst offender lest one think I am criticizing anyone else. When our family went to Mexico a few years ago I told everyone else they could bring nothing, while I took my laptop, PDA and cell phone. But you know-I do own a computer/network consulting business so I have to take all that stuff-right? Don't I? It's not a problem I swe-----HEY where are you going with all my stuff!!!!

[abunslife]

Wow....I think I may have to propose a challenge to you all. 1 week without any electronic "device". No ipod, pda, DS, computer (outside of work or school, blogging included!), no texting....etc. Do you think you all could survive, without going into convulsions?

[Nathan]

I love maps too. I have a map of the World and the US hanging in my extra bedroom. I also detailed maps of Colorado, Nebraska, and a map of Manhattan.

[Kathy G]

We haven't gone on a long car trip recently (the last ones were Chicago and Tulsa), but for multi-day traveling I still like to get Triptiks from AAA and follow along as we drive.

[Kim]

As a kid, I had the maps from National Geographic plastered all over my room. Some kids had Scott Baio, I had Europe and the USSR (before it was divided into Whateveritskhan and Russia). That's why I rock at the geography category at trivia nights.

Maddy and I play the alphabet game when we road trip. She can't play her DS in the car, it makes her carsick. The irony. :)

[A]

Liked this post a lot! We don't realize how precious childhood is when we are growing I guess, and all that's left of it are memories now.