The first three years of marriage, Marjorie and Thomas worked all the time. Going out to eat was their primary recreation. She taught Junior High, which took preparation time on the weekends plus studied for a master’s degree at night. His truck maintenance business ran seven days/twenty-four hours a day. They had a snow plowing side-gig during the winters for extra money.
Once a baby arrived, life changed. Marjorie took a maternity leave and decided there was more to life than work. She wanted to travel but it was difficult with a little one. After a challenging two years, which almost ended in separation, Thomas sold his business. They bought a self-contained RV, named it Hobo, and hit the road. It was time for a life make-over.
Without obligations, they enjoyed spending a precious, uninterrupted month together as a family. Thomas’ face when they approached the Rocky Mountains expressed sheer pleasure. He had never been west, and he was in awe. The first thing he did was pull into a small grocery store and buy a Coors Beer. Coors was not available in Illinois at the time. Driving an RV, listening to John Denver singing, “Rocky Mountain High,” and chugging a Coors…. The man was living the dream!
The mountains of Colorado, the Indian lands of New Mexico, The Golden Gate Bridge and everything in between changed their perspective. Of course, Disneyland on the Fourth of July was a favorite for their three-year-old daughter, Jennifer.
Sadly, for their parents, grandparents, and siblings, they were unable to continue living the Berwyn, Illinois, dream anymore. The constant work and lack of family time wasn’t worth the sacrifices it took to preserve the home and jobs. All the responsibilities extended family placed on the young couple sucked up more time. Looking forward to the Houby (Mushroom) Parade in the fall, was no longer viewed as a life highlight.
Within a year, they sold everything, packed up their RV, waved goodbye to their old life and headed west.
“You’ll be back,” everyone cautioned. “You’ll be back.”
At the time, they didn’t know if their destination would be Texas or California. They just drove and enjoyed the ride.
Thomas had applied for a job as a truck mechanic for both a Los Angeles company and a Houston company before leaving. As they were driving through the Rocky Mountains again, he pulled over and decided to check on the progress of his applications. Calling from a phone booth outside the store where he had tasted that first Rocky Mountain Coors, he received news that a position was waiting for him in Los Angeles. After finishing the grand tour, Southern California is where they eventually parked, and never even glanced in the rear-view mirror.
— Mugsy
Once a baby arrived, life changed. Marjorie took a maternity leave and decided there was more to life than work. She wanted to travel but it was difficult with a little one. After a challenging two years, which almost ended in separation, Thomas sold his business. They bought a self-contained RV, named it Hobo, and hit the road. It was time for a life make-over.
Without obligations, they enjoyed spending a precious, uninterrupted month together as a family. Thomas’ face when they approached the Rocky Mountains expressed sheer pleasure. He had never been west, and he was in awe. The first thing he did was pull into a small grocery store and buy a Coors Beer. Coors was not available in Illinois at the time. Driving an RV, listening to John Denver singing, “Rocky Mountain High,” and chugging a Coors…. The man was living the dream!
The mountains of Colorado, the Indian lands of New Mexico, The Golden Gate Bridge and everything in between changed their perspective. Of course, Disneyland on the Fourth of July was a favorite for their three-year-old daughter, Jennifer.
Sadly, for their parents, grandparents, and siblings, they were unable to continue living the Berwyn, Illinois, dream anymore. The constant work and lack of family time wasn’t worth the sacrifices it took to preserve the home and jobs. All the responsibilities extended family placed on the young couple sucked up more time. Looking forward to the Houby (Mushroom) Parade in the fall, was no longer viewed as a life highlight.
Within a year, they sold everything, packed up their RV, waved goodbye to their old life and headed west.
“You’ll be back,” everyone cautioned. “You’ll be back.”
At the time, they didn’t know if their destination would be Texas or California. They just drove and enjoyed the ride.
Thomas had applied for a job as a truck mechanic for both a Los Angeles company and a Houston company before leaving. As they were driving through the Rocky Mountains again, he pulled over and decided to check on the progress of his applications. Calling from a phone booth outside the store where he had tasted that first Rocky Mountain Coors, he received news that a position was waiting for him in Los Angeles. After finishing the grand tour, Southern California is where they eventually parked, and never even glanced in the rear-view mirror.
— Mugsy
Fabulouse! Once you see the Rockies while drinking a Coors, why turn back?
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