Monday, October 02, 2006
Travels with Dada
Dada turned 89 last month. He has a quirky sense of humor along with an aversion to not getting his way. Two traits inherited by at least one of his granddaughters.
Back in 1939, he and a friend, Gilbert Kneehorn, decided to head west and ‘join up.’ Parents were not informed. They hitch-hiked out of St. Louis, then caught open freight trains, making it as far as Las Vegas. There, Dada decided he had had enough. His father was, understandably, furious with him. Grateful, too, I imagine. Gilbert continued to California and enlisted. He was sent to the Philippines and never returned.
Strange the places life can take you. I like to think Dada’s adventurous spirit ("Never go back the way you came") is within me, too, but I would never have considered jumping trains across country. I rationalize that it’s because I’m a ‘girl,’ but then my whole idea of ‘equality of the sexes’ is undermined. Maybe my spirit goes in different directions. Whenever I go to DC I take 301 north and 95 south. The fact that you have to pay a toll if you take 301 south is irrelevant.
Back in 1939, he and a friend, Gilbert Kneehorn, decided to head west and ‘join up.’ Parents were not informed. They hitch-hiked out of St. Louis, then caught open freight trains, making it as far as Las Vegas. There, Dada decided he had had enough. His father was, understandably, furious with him. Grateful, too, I imagine. Gilbert continued to California and enlisted. He was sent to the Philippines and never returned.
Strange the places life can take you. I like to think Dada’s adventurous spirit ("Never go back the way you came") is within me, too, but I would never have considered jumping trains across country. I rationalize that it’s because I’m a ‘girl,’ but then my whole idea of ‘equality of the sexes’ is undermined. Maybe my spirit goes in different directions. Whenever I go to DC I take 301 north and 95 south. The fact that you have to pay a toll if you take 301 south is irrelevant.
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Hurrah! I found your lovely lovely card (the "Sarah Personas") in a pile I was working through and so found your blog. So sorry about the job! You are, I am sure, just fine in your new work, but it's always a shock, to say the least. Still, all of these professions are temporary, and as such, disposable. Hope all is improved, glad you felt comfortable in chatham, as I felt sad not to have more time with you. It's strange to miss it a bit now that it is over. Only a bit, though.
:) I love your blog, Madame E! It's almost as good as actually talking to you! I finally found a wireless spot in my area--woohoo!
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