Our trip to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in 1961 holds the fondest vacation memories for me. An eight and a half hour drive from New Jersey, I don’t know how my parents did it with five kids and my cousin Pat. The NC coast was our destination with its picturesque lighthouse, sand dunes and museum of the Wright Brothers, who got the first airplane off the ground at Kitty Hawk.
My Dad, ever the nature lover, had us up at dawn to take a guided nature walk along the beach, peering into tide pools, collecting shells and tromping through marshlands.
One day we took a ferry to the Outer Banks. We spent the day at the State Park, swimming, building sand castles and getting sun burned. In line for the ferry back to our campsite we discovered that one of two ferries had run aground on a sandbar. We waited for hours, out of drinking water and food, expecting to have been back for dinner.
As the afternoon wore on, my mother decided to take the five kids, youngest age three to ride the ferry and walk back to the campground. Dad and brother William (8) were to stay with the car. Sounded like a plan.
The trouble was, by the time the ferry docked across the bay, and our little troop off loaded, the sun had set, leaving us to navigate a gravel road, in the dark. As children are prone to do, we had left our shoes in the car. My poor mother.
Somehow we made it. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches never tasted so good. Then my mother did something totally amazing, at least to me. She opened a can of grape juice. I’m sure we were all dehydrated but juice was a rare treat in those days. My mother’s job was to save all year and pinch pennies to make our vacation happen. She was the finance person. That night, she doled out grape juice like fine wine.
The memory stays with me to this day.
DOS TORTAS
the adventures of dos tortas 
More wonderful memories. My mum was also the keeper of the purse; as was Liam’s. I see a pattern developing here 😀
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My father left his check on the dresser and my mother signed his name. She’d hand him money to buy movie tickets.
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My what a memory.
I’ve taken today’s version of that ferry, and others. Two years ago, I came up from the south end and drove the entire Outer Banks. I absolutely love that area, and if it weren’t for hurricanes, I’d likely be there.
I sure wish my parents had taking me camping as a child.
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It truly is a special place.
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So sweet! Home for a few hours before Mexico city tomorrow – will go to the magic store for you😊 love to you all xo
Lorrie Jones
Simple Serenity
simpleserenity.comhttp://simpleserenity.com/
253.312.3117
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