Big Sur

I remember one year we went camping in Big Sur, California.  We met Uncle Herman and family there.  Uncle Herman was a fun guy.... always laughing and happy.  He loved his beer, he even built a small trailer to haul behind his vehicle just for his beer!!  I guess he liked the beer from Louisiana better than what we have on the West Coast.

 But...Uncle Herman was from the SOUTH... and he was prejudice!!  He let us know he hated Negro People!!  We had to get something from the little store near Big Sur before we set up camp... Dad and Herman were going to go into the store and leave all of us kids and the women in the cars.  Both men got out and started into the store...and Herman quickly got back in the car... he saw a Negro in the store and there was NO way he was going into a store with a Negro!!  Obviously Dad never noticed the color of any of the other shoppers skin...Dad never did.  We lived among the Negros so much we never noticed them.

We camped at Big Sur for a full week.  It was one of the best camping experiences of my life.  There was a great creek going through the campground, there was a swimming pool and a STORE!!  what more could a person want???    I remember most of the group going on some hike into the hills..but I stayed back with mom and Aunt Flossy and the little kids.  I chose to explore the area on the other side of the highway, next to the ocean -- all by myself.  It was awesome... very beautiful area.  I remember I hiked so far I thought I was lost... I offered a prayer and felt a peace come over me.  Soon I was back to the highway and down the road was the campground. 

Aunt Flossy was a nice lady.  A school teacher - who never forgot that her career was teaching.  I remember how she would explain things to me...taking her time to make sure I understood.  She was always fit, never got fat.  She said her secret was to brush her teeth once she finished a meal and not eat again until the next meal.  I thought that was a great idea...but, heck, back then I forgot to brush my teeth half the time!!  

They had kids...but I honestly don't remember any of them.  I'm sure we all played together and had a good time....  but I remember being alone a lot on that trip...and enjoying the solitude.  I guess being anti-social started early in my life.  Cause I sure like my alone time even now.

Uncle Herman worked for the Post Office.  When Herman and Flossy got older they would come to visit by train.  They loved Amtrak... the fact that they had a LOT of time off for their vacations sure helped.  Most of us don't have enough time to enjoy a trip on Amtrak.

Emily was named Emily Florence and so she had a special bond to her.  I remember Em always finding items with strawberries on them to send to her.  I wonder if Aunt Flossy still likes strawberries. 

Florence and Herman were flooded out of their home from Hurricane Katrina.  They then moved to Arizona to live by their daughter.  I hear she is doing good...spry as ever!!  (2011)