Every once in a while, a word, a TV show or a mention in the paper will stir thoughts of places I've been, that bring back pleasant memories. Places that I'll never see again, but memories that bring a smile and a moment of reflection about what if?
Not being a world traveler most have to do with the United States... so if I'm in a thoughtful mood, I'll go to on-line maps such a Google Pro, to see if those places still exist, the way that I remember them. To zoom in on specific streets, buildings or maybe lakes or seashores.
It's an endless exercise, so it's just one at a time. Today, it's memories of the year I spent when I was based in Chicago, but spending most of the time on a free wheeling creative project with 7 of my stores in California, from Auburn, down to Watsonville. Much road travel with about only 4 hours af actual time in the new "Test" automotive locations.
Plenty of time to explore, with no retrictions on time or 'reporting back' requirements.
Oakland as a base, to Livermore, Sacramento then Grass Valley to Auburn... that I learned to love... Fishing Antelope Lake... then down to Placerville, a try at gold panning,... hop up to Tahoe in winter (chains) for a free meal and losing $20 in the machines.
Then Sonora... stayed at the Rifle Inn... gold rush tiny main street... into Twain Harte, and one Sunday in a company pickup truck, a trip into the Stanislaus Forest... lost for three hours on back roads... winter... no one anywhere around. Groveland in an 19th century hotel room 60s.f. room and stairs to 2nd floor... 20 inches wide... sideways
Then Yosemite... in winter... snow... circa 1982 no people. Bridal Veil Falls all alone... a nap in the meadow on the bank of the river (can't remember the name). It was the year the Queen came to visit Yosemite, and one of her entourage advance party cars went over a cliff into the American River.
Drive down to Modesto, and Turlock where I had a brand new store. First time I discovered housing prices... shock! A hovel... $150K... run down tiny cottage. At the time, that would buy a 3000 s.f. home in Naperville.
Other trip to Watsonville store via Gilroy which I could recognize 3 miles away from the onion/garlic smell. In Watsonville always ate at a Mexican restaurant in the front two rooms of a house... always full of people (all six tables)... hottest tiny peppers ever grown in captivity. Four large beers to ease the third degree burns.
Just a quick trip throough the imagination of a few of the sharpest memories of my time in CA...
As born New Englander, virtually every road in every state. and lived in all but Connecticut at one time or another. Then Upstate NY... another 10 years of occupational travel. True love - the Adirondaks. The other most memorable eidetic memory... Nikko Japan, contrasted with the Streets of Tokyo... romance without responsibility as a free all expense paid triip.
So a topic that starts nowhere, and goes nowhere... Images that are probably wrong, but the kind of thing that happens after a long cold winter in North Country... (Illinois)
Do you ever go back to the maps to remember life experiences?
Not being a world traveler most have to do with the United States... so if I'm in a thoughtful mood, I'll go to on-line maps such a Google Pro, to see if those places still exist, the way that I remember them. To zoom in on specific streets, buildings or maybe lakes or seashores.
It's an endless exercise, so it's just one at a time. Today, it's memories of the year I spent when I was based in Chicago, but spending most of the time on a free wheeling creative project with 7 of my stores in California, from Auburn, down to Watsonville. Much road travel with about only 4 hours af actual time in the new "Test" automotive locations.
Plenty of time to explore, with no retrictions on time or 'reporting back' requirements.
Oakland as a base, to Livermore, Sacramento then Grass Valley to Auburn... that I learned to love... Fishing Antelope Lake... then down to Placerville, a try at gold panning,... hop up to Tahoe in winter (chains) for a free meal and losing $20 in the machines.
Then Sonora... stayed at the Rifle Inn... gold rush tiny main street... into Twain Harte, and one Sunday in a company pickup truck, a trip into the Stanislaus Forest... lost for three hours on back roads... winter... no one anywhere around. Groveland in an 19th century hotel room 60s.f. room and stairs to 2nd floor... 20 inches wide... sideways
Then Yosemite... in winter... snow... circa 1982 no people. Bridal Veil Falls all alone... a nap in the meadow on the bank of the river (can't remember the name). It was the year the Queen came to visit Yosemite, and one of her entourage advance party cars went over a cliff into the American River.
Drive down to Modesto, and Turlock where I had a brand new store. First time I discovered housing prices... shock! A hovel... $150K... run down tiny cottage. At the time, that would buy a 3000 s.f. home in Naperville.
Other trip to Watsonville store via Gilroy which I could recognize 3 miles away from the onion/garlic smell. In Watsonville always ate at a Mexican restaurant in the front two rooms of a house... always full of people (all six tables)... hottest tiny peppers ever grown in captivity. Four large beers to ease the third degree burns.
Just a quick trip throough the imagination of a few of the sharpest memories of my time in CA...
As born New Englander, virtually every road in every state. and lived in all but Connecticut at one time or another. Then Upstate NY... another 10 years of occupational travel. True love - the Adirondaks. The other most memorable eidetic memory... Nikko Japan, contrasted with the Streets of Tokyo... romance without responsibility as a free all expense paid triip.
So a topic that starts nowhere, and goes nowhere... Images that are probably wrong, but the kind of thing that happens after a long cold winter in North Country... (Illinois)
Do you ever go back to the maps to remember life experiences?
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