Summer Travel with CHILDREN!

In 1972 the thespian Alice Cooper released one of his biggest hits, School's Out For Summer. A bit goes like this: 'School's out for summer, School's out forever . . . '

Mr. 'Patriotic' Cooper

The very talented musician had it wrong since even when that summer bell rings releasing smiling and screaming children school is not often over forever sadly. Nearly 60 million of those running, jumping, and squealing adolescents will be returning to the 'hum-drum' of classroom life in late August or early September. The lyrics should have read - 'School's out for almost three months . . . ' But then again, those words wouldn't seem to carry a tune so we'll let Mr. Cooper have the final word on his monster release from 42 years ago (where did the time go?).

Some school districts have ended for the year and some will be ending very soon but no matter the exact date parents, grandparents, care givers, and others are excitedly planning trips to entertain those little munchkins who have been pardoned for the summer.

We at J and L seriously hope, being mainly a travel blog, that these tens of millions of children do have plans with family, friends or camps to get outside and do some exploring. Adventure is what inspires and young people need this activity from getting sedentary, obese, or simply bored.

Sitting on a couch texting, watching the same movies over and over again, having ear buds glued into the depths of canals, and playing violent video games is not what summer is all about. No, it's a time to pack up lunches and head to the beach, take hikes in the mountains, swim in rivers, visit museums, or take a road trip to explore.

Having experience raising four children J and L know perfectly well the 'trauma' that is often times associated with taking children on trips, either nationally or internationally. Every moment was nothing short of wonder - okay, back to reality. We had fun but some simple rules do apply so the driver and co-pilot do not end up in prison for something they did after hearing "are we there yet?" "Why can't I sleep the whole way from California to Canada?" "She's touching me!" and other lines over and over and over and over again. Annoying, yes to the umpteenth degree.

We argued about some simple enforceable rules at first which but once the trip started those tantrums seemed to drift away as the asphalt melted into the rear view mirror. It also works when the tarmac slips into the jet stream.
1. No electronics or they will miss Arizona or the Atlantic Ocean.
2. Look out the window - L was forced to do that as a youngster while traveling with her family and now understands why she can tell which part of the country we're in by just seeing the vegetation or rock formations.
3. Discuss/communicate where you are and why you are there.
4. No sleeping in the car or RV all day - plenty of time to sleep when the sun goes down and they will miss a lot.
5. Plan some stops at parks, museums, historical sites - a bright child is a wonderful thing.
6. In the hotel or campsite play board games - reconnect with the children.
7. At night review what was experienced during the day.

These are just some tips from travelers who have experienced the wonderment of traveling with children. It truly is fun to watch your child's eyes widen when they see the Grand Canyon for the first time or watch them as they actually touch the Eiffel Tower.

Travel in your own back yard or a back yard thousands of miles away. But travel with your children and they will appreciate it as they become adults and look back on all those trips and 'silly' rules with relish.

Our children do and that was one of the points of being parents - to explore and to have them explore in turn.

Summer is here - start exploring as a family.

In Remembrance

The final Monday of the month of May is nearly upon us and once again we pay honor to those who have fallen in the fields of battle preserving this wonderful country of ours. It is the day that Americans acknowledge all the brave military personnel who, without hesitation laid down their lives to ensure the rest of us non-military types have the freedom and liberty in which we hold so dear to our hearts.

The holiday once known as Decoration Day, was later changed formaly to Memorial Day in 1967 and has a long and distinguished history.

Throughout human history people have often decorated graves of those killed in battle with flowers, wreaths, personal items, and much more. But it wasn't until the Civil War that the practice of decorating a soldier's grave became so prominent. That war, the one between the North and the South, which left approximately 750,000 soldiers dead (according to the latest research conducted by historian J. David Hacker) resulted in citizens openly decorating the graves of both the Union and Confederate soldiers.

President Johnson

There is contention of whom or what section of this country first displayed decorated graves or cemeteries but in 1865, due to the large loss of life during the Civil War, the Federal government began creating national military cemeteries. Boalsburg, Pennsylvania claims that women took to the task of decorating graves on July 4, 1864 but there is a cry of foul from Warrenton, Virginia which claims the practice started there on June 3, 1861. And yet on May 26, 1966 President Johnson signed a presidential proclamation saying Waterloo, New York was the birthplace for Memorial Day. But the first truly prominent celebration of Memorial Day was on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina by the town's freed slaves. At least 257 Union soldiers died at the Charleston Race Course, which was being used as a prisoner of war camp by the South, and the freed men and women decided to honor those soldiers who had died while putting an end to slavery. Ten thousand people (men, women and children) showed up for the remembrance of those soldiers who died horrible deaths while imprisoned at the race course.

Cemetery at Charleston Race Course

A bit confusing claiming to be the first but then again does it really matter who gets the shot at infamy when in reality the only thing that matters is for all of us to give thanks to those brave men and women who are no longer with us because of their selflessness?

So, fire up the barbeques and enjoy your time with friends and family but sometime during the day shoot a prayer up for those fallen heroes who are no longer with us.

At J and L we will.

J's father (George), grandfather (John), and uncle (Jack) are all buried here and served their country proud

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Eighty degrees with some mild to gusty winds from the south made it a perfect day to catch nine innings at the home of our local minor league, the Mavericks. A twenty minute drive north on Highway 395 had us arriving at the Stater Brothers Heritage Field parking lot in the small town of Adelanto.

We were excited!

John could not wait to clamber onto the pitcher's mound and throw a fast ball at the opposing batter from the Inland Empire 66ers but then again J has a vivid imagination. It was true that J was going to throw out the first ball at the Sunday game but there would be no batter ready to drill it back toward the pitcher's mound. Only J and a brave Maverick's player who would have the honor or terror of receiving a pitch from a guy who has only pitched bad lines when talking lately. His name has been purposely left out of the text to safeguard him from ridicule (but we did include his photo).

The man who stopped J's pitch with ease.

Our good friend, Terry Kurtz had invited us to the ball field Sunday the 18th of May so J could have a book signing for his latest novel, Soft Target, and to actually throw out the first ball of the game. The smile across J's face was priceless - just like a child in a gun store or would that be a candy store? You can see what brought smiles to a younger J during childhood.

We had the privilege of utilizing the Greiner Pontiac Skybox 1 for the signing and comfortable it was on that warm afternoon with a canvas awning to keep the sun off our heads, cushioned chairs and plenty of space to set out novels to be signed.

Our videographer, Paul Bakas, came along to film the event and got some amazing shots and film of J throwing the ball out, stills of players, J signing books, and more film showing the Sante Fe Drifters (cowboy/gunslinger re-enacters) as they entertained the baseball crowd with western antics during the 3rd and 6th inning. Watching good guys and bad guys shooting at each other is good old fashioned fun like watching a baseball game on a nice Sunday afternoon. It really is.

Bully and J having a good time hanging out.

Speaking of throwing the ball out. J had been nervous all morning hoping, praying, offering gifts to the gods that he wouldn't throw the pitch and have it roll up to the catcher like a pill bug. Nervous he should not have been as the pitch from the mound, all 60 feet and 6 inches reached home plate with no arch but a tad bit to the right which would have been called a ball. He knew, if given the chance, the next three would have been strikes.

"That was just my warm-up throw," J said while shaking hands with the catcher and smiling at the crowd.

Author busy signing away

Then it was onto game time and book signing. A well spent afternoon talking with new friends, explaining the writing process, and just doing a lot of hand shaking and laughing.

We didn't smile when the Maverick's lost 5 to 7 to the 66ers but that is how the game goes. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't but it's how you play the game that counts and the local boys did a pretty good job at that.

A special thanks to the following who were more than gracious hosts, really fun to be around and they all work for the Maverick's team. Matt Melchoir, Megan Patterson and Zach Osadche. You folks are awesome. And of course a great big thank you to the Maverick's team, owners and franchise, the Seattle Mariner's.

Play ball!!!!!