In the summer of 1959, Mom made a decision to visit her family back in Eureka, Kansas with all three boys. It was a L-O-N-G trip. Three days each way. We first took the The New England States train, run by the New York Central Railroad from Boston to Chicago. Then rode the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy passenger train, The Kansas City Zephyr to Eastern Kansas. The second train had a cool observation car. I only remember a few key events from the train trek. Stuttering through a “make your own record” message for Dad in Chicago and getting new sneakers. At the time, PF Flyers were the most coveted footwear for active kids. There was a commercial playing on Saturday morning that showed “the magic wedge” and how boys wearing these could jump higher and run faster. So while we were there on the day of our arrival, Grandmother sprung for new sneakers for all the grandkids. While Mom was visiting friends we went out to the street to try out our new shoes. All three boys running down the street with me in the rear. At one point, I remember looking down to look at my new shoes and wondering about the magic wedge, when “BANG!” I hit a parked car. In those days cars were petty solid. This 1957 Buick was all chrome and steel. I was rushed to the local GP who gave me stitches and a bandage on the top of my head and told me not to go in the water for ten days. At over 100 degrees, it was torture going to the country club and not being able to put my head underwater. The last thing I remember from the trip was arriving to Worcester at night and and having Dad pick us up in a brand new 1959 gray and white Ford Fairlane. I recall him showing Mom how the dual headlights worked, only to accidentally turn them off on Snake Hill on the way home.

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