Happy Birthday Marti!!

First, today is my "big" sister's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is because she doesn't look it or act it in any way, shape or form. She is a fabulous Mom, Teacher, Daughter, and best of all Sister/Friend. She has always been there for me as my friend and protector. When she was in school and they had parties where cupcakes or cookies were brought in, she would bring one home for me (does that mean I can blame her for my obsession with food...). Marti - I love you!!

Second, these photos and this story really doesn't have anything to do with my sister's birthday, however, she is in all the pictures with me. In 1975 my my family took a trip to Yellowstone National Park and parts in between. We took lots of pictures in front of monuments and nature scenes, much like this one of some waterfall behind us. (Yes, I have pigtails and a Raggedy-Andy t-shirt on and Marti is rockin' the overalls.)

We were on the road for 10 days staying in lots of KOA campgrounds. Our "home" was the bed of my parent's Dodge Ram Truck. Dad put a slab of plywood across the bed and slid a mattress between the wheels. Marti and I slept cross ways on top and Mom and Dad slept on the mattress underneath us. We cooked on a Coleman stove and lived by the light of a campfire and Coleman lantern. Certainly not the Tas-ma-Tent that I've now become accustomed to, however, I wouldn't have given this up for anything.

In this picture, I am sliding into the pool where my sister was supposed to catch me. Notice I said "supposed". As I hit the water, she put her arms up to cover her face from the splash and I went straight to the bottom of the pool. Did I mention that I didn't (and still don't) know how to swim and do not like to have water on my face.... Ah well, again, a memory that I would never want to lose.

This picture is of Marti and me in front of the Wild Bill Hickcock memorial. Nothing really spectacular about this picture other than we are obviously really cold; I'm a big goob; and yes, that is a Budweiser fishing cap on my head....Oh yeah!! Classy!!