Blog archive
April 2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
On the hood of the family car…
By Karen BagnardPosted: 09/08/2020
The last lap of our trip on our summer vacation with Dad was rough asphalt and then gravel. The old 1955 Pontiac Star Chief station wagon must have known the route by heart, just like I did. A landscape of rolling hills dotted with junipers, yuccas and jagged boulders stretched out as far as the eye could see.
It was dusty and hot. There was no air conditioning in the car, which was packed with the provisions we would need for a week: A heavy metal ice chest held ice and cold foods; boxes held canned goods and dry goods; there were cots, sleeping bags and lanterns; our duffle bags had a few changes of clothes and our Girl Scout and Boy Scout mess kits, as well as canteens.
We three kids loved this week with Dad. We counted the days leading up to it. We talked about all that we would be doing. We hiked, did rifle practice, hunted rabbits, my sister and I cooked the meals and felt very competent. We read, played games and napped in the mid-day heat.
The best part of the trip was that last lap. When the old station wagon finally rolled up to the fenced property with the big ranch type gate, Dad would stop the car, get out and unlock the padlock. The road stretching ahead was a bumpy dirt road.
“Okay, Kids, hop on!” Dad would yell.
This was the moment we had been anticipating. We piled out of the car and clamored on top of the hood. It was hot and dusty but we didn’t care. Dad slowly rolled the car down the bumpy road kicking up a wake of dust.
What joy! We waved like Rose Queens on a parade float.
Slowly, slowly the car rolled to a stop and, not until Dad said so, we hopped off the car. Wow! What a ride! What FUN!
Then the final command from Dad came: “Remember, Buddies, don’t ever tell Mommy that I let you do this!” We swore we wouldn’t! And we never did… until much later, years later when it was too late for her to get mad about it and scold Dad.
- kAREN bAGNARD -