When I was fourteen years old, I took my first road trip without my family. I did a lot of babysitting for young couples in my neighborhood. One of the ladies I babysat for often was going to visit her family in Wilmington, North Carolina. Her husband had to work, and because she had a young baby, she wanted someone to go with her to help with the baby during the trip. So, I not only got to go on what was for me an exciting road trip, I also got paid to go! Once we got to her mother’s home, I was free to explore the area with Judy’s sister, who was close in age to me.
It was on that trip that I saw the ocean for the first time. Wilmington is on the coast of North Carolina. The hugeness of the Atlantic Ocean was awe inspiring for me. Even though it was winter, I went down to the beach and walked along the edge of the ocean for several hours. It was also on that trip that I had my first date. While the boy is forgettable, it was a very new experience for me so I will always remember it.
One of the other firsts I did on that trip, was to order a meal for myself from a restaurant menu. My family was large, and my parents never took us out to eat. We did get treats from fast food restaurants, but when we did, my mother stopped on her way home from work and brought whatever it was home with her. For me to look at a menu and decide for myself made me feel very grown-up. I remember that I ordered fried shrimp and a baked potato.
When was your first road trip without your family? How old were you, and where did you go? What do you remember of it?
penpen says
what a charming story and remembrance. The only early-trip memory I can dredge up is taking the overnight train from New York to Florida with my parents and brother over the Christmas-New Years holidays. The trip I remember distinctly is one where I must have been a pre-teen. My mother had back problems and evidently her back “acted up” on the train. When we arrived in Florida she had to be taken off the train on a stretcher. It was a very scary moment for me–seeing my mother so incapacitated outside of home. She must have recuperated quickly because, ten days later, we took the train home.
sandy says
I enjoyed your story and sounds like a great time and cool the way it came together. I came here from Gaelyln’s blog to thank you for othe update.
Now you have me thinking – I think my first road trip was a trip to the Ozarks at about 6 years old or so. We lived in Kansas city Ks and i don’t believe it was too far away.
Christie Hawkes says
What a fun memory, Karen, and thanks for sharing the photo. The first solo trip I remember was right after I graduated from high school. It wasn’t actually a roadtrip, as I flew. I went to visit my Aunt Sheri, who was expecting a baby any day. Her husband was working out of town, so I went to help her. I don’t remember doing much work though. I do remember her taking me out a lot. We walked the Santa Monica Pier, went to a move, and out to eat a lot. I have such fond memories of that time we spent together.