Weekends growing up we seemed to go on long rides. Dad just loved to drive. It was really fun when we had the black Ford convertible and we'd drive with the top down. Driving to the beach was probably my favorite driving along the old highway twisting up and down the hills and then finally arriving at the beach. I remember we'd drive along other roads where those oil derricks that looked like huge ants going up and down were all over the place. And it wouldn't be a Friday or Saturday night without going out to eat. "George's" was just down the street on Burbank Blvd and they had those hush puppies. "Sargent's" where you couldn't get enough of their yummy tapioca pudding. "Howdy's" is where Mom taught me never to order meatloaf at a restaurant because they would just take everyone's leftovers mixed up to make it - yuck! "Leo's Steak House" seemed to be dark inside for a reason. "Van De Kamps" with the chicken pot pies and flaky rolls. But, of course, none of us can forget "Bob's Big Boy" with their special sauce on the hamburgers, the tall thick malts, and the heavenly hot fudge sundaes. Glad I enjoyed it when I was young. Life then seemed to be so laid-back doing whatever we wanted.
Some of those rides were very long. On Sunday afternoons we seemed to go to the Palmdale/Lancaster area. It seemed to take forever. Another significant ride was up in the mountains and there were three crosses. I don't remember what area this was but I don't think it took too long to get there.
ReplyDeleteOnce we took a ride at night and it started to get foggy (as I recall). I think we got lost because we were trying to figure out where we were. There was a SHELL gas station that had one of their lights burned out. So always wanting to get a laugh (or at least Judy's attention), I pointed to what spelled "HELL" and said "maybe that's where we are!"
I remember Leon's Stead House too. My favorite was chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy. I always got that. Most of the time we'd get "Shirley Temple" to drink. The first time Gil went to Leon's with us I remember we ordered him one too -- or was that a "Hop-Along-Cassidy"?
When we went to Van De Kamps the three of us would take turns sitting in the driver's seat. We thought it was so cool the way they hung the food tray from the steering wheel. We were very disappointed when they started putting it outside the window; it just wasn't the same.
After finding this picture of the Ford convertible, my thoughts of Dad always keeping his vehicles clean and shiny is proven with the way this picture shows the glow of the light. He kept his shoes that shiny, too! (by Susan)
ReplyDeleteGood memory girls, except the hush puppy's were at Sargent's. We went to George's for the fried chicken which was much better than KFC's.
ReplyDeleteThe reason for the tray on the steering wheel at Van de Kamps was that Dad didn't like it on the outside because it could scratch his paint and he let us sit up front cause we were smaller. It was too cramped if he sat there. I always liked that after those Sunday dinners we would save some of our rolls and go to Forest Lawn in Glendale to feed the swans and ducks. (by Judy)
Yeah, feeding the ducks at Forest Lawn was REALLY fun except for the time I was bare-foot and they started attacking my little toes. It really scared me & it hurt. Think I tried to always have shoes on after that. I still like feeding the ducks - took my kids & now my grandkids to places where we can feed them - and yes I do wear my shoes! by Susan
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