1975 - It Was a Very Good Year!


In the winter of 1975, I boarded a Greyhound Bus with minimal luggage and the Hoover vacuum cleaner that my Grandmother had gifted me when I got my first apartment.

Easter week, April 1974, my father passed away. He had told me that if I wasn't planning on getting married and settling down in Indianapolis, Indiana that I should move as far away as I could. My dad had traveled the world, and I never believed that the midwest was really his cup of tea. I figured out that it wasn't mine either.

So that next year after daddy died, I turned 21 in February, and in March, with 9 inches of snow on the ground and nothing to hold me to Indianapolis, I bought a 30-day Greyhound Bus Ameripass for around 70 bucks and headed West to Los Angeles, California.
That was 34 years ago, and although I have returned for visits, I never moved back. I'm no longer in Santa Monica where I first started in my California journey, but I'm still here in Southern California - in "The O.C."

The above 6" x 6" gallery-wrapped canvas was created by my friend Linda Bucci and gifted to me as a Mother's Day gift. I swear, that Greyhound bus is the same make and model I was on for 2 1/2 days back in '75. And the Hoover? Oh yeah, that's the one :)

Thank you again Linda for such a personal and thoughtfully created gift! And thank you (and of course your wonderful husband, Bob) for "The Best Burger" dinner last night at your home! XOXO

8 comments:

Mademoiselle Julie said...

The gift is great & very thoughtful, I agree. I love your story as well, Sherry! Similar - but w/o encouragement from my mom - I boarded for Tampa May 31st 12 years ago! We realized yesterday that it was the very first Mother's Day we spent together since then! It was precious - hope yours too. Cheers, Julie

MB Shaw said...

Thanks so much for your "hug" regarding the death of my cat. I appreciate your sweet thoughts.
Love hearing about you journey to CA. Wowza, how cool is that!?!?!

CarlosCafe said...

Aaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwww "The Hoover" gifted from Grandma's heart and touched by her ever caring hands. Every time I hear this story it touches my heart.

Sue said...

Lovely post and what a wonderful gift to receive for Mother's Day. Lucky you!

T.Allen said...

That's an incredible story and, freedom is a wonderful gift, as is your collage!

Lezlei Ann Young said...

I am so glad you got on that bus!!!
xoxoxoxo
Lezlei

CarlosCafe said...

And to think that the gentleman in Long Beach said that you don't know how to vacuum :)

Marilyn said...

Great Story! You were really brave.