California and Your First Kiss

In the summer of 1989, we were able to use points from my business trips to fly to California for a great vacation. Back then, we were able to use airline points for hotels and car rentals, too. We flew to San Francisco and stayed in a Marriott on the bay in Oakland. We got a mid-sized, tan Corsica for our car. It was July, but it was freezing in San Francisco. You are showing us your age in this photo!

After a few days of sightseeing we headed to Yosemite where we had reserved a cabin. The Marriott it was not! I remember you, Mom and Allison sitting on the bed with your feet up. The floor was so dirty you did not want to put your feet down without shoes. The park was spectacular though! But the ride into and out of the park was very curvy and surrounded by steep cliffs, and you got carsick the day we drive out - and Mom almost did in that tan Cierra.

From there we drove back to the coast, down the Pacific Coastal Highway (another curvy road with spectacular scenery) and stopped to visit Mom's Aunt - another Jane Brockway Stone in Santa Maria.

We continued south to LA and did Hollywood and NBC Studios. Do you remember Mom being pulled over by a huge California State Trooper for speeding? We then went south again to San Diego. We even took a quick trip across the border to Tijuana. In San Diego we visited Pacific Beach and spent time in the beautiful hotel pool. It was at that Marriott that you had a very embarrassing moment. You were lying on the bed, after we came back from the pool, when one of the loudest toots ever came out! We all could not stop laughing! How could such a big toot come out of a little girl?

In San Diego we also visited the famous San Diego Zoo and you received your first kiss from a seal/sea lion! Do you remember his name? I do but I want to see if you remember it!

That trip may well be my favorite family vacation!