TRIP BACK TO GLENDALE PART 26

I decided to take the Southern Route back.  As a child, we took this route a few times.  This time, entered california at  Blythe instead of Needles. I also stopped and walked down into Carlsbad Caverns.  My parents took me there as a child.  As it was 1952 my time, it wasn't that many years ago. There are two things that affect me very much:  one is staring up at the universe from a mountain top and the other is walking through Carlsbad Caverns.  The universe speaks of infinite power and wisdom, the caverns speak of eons and eons of antiquity.  One drop of water from the ceiling every few minutes, carried sediment that over the millions of years, built towering stalagmites and stalactites.  Towering giants glistening in the dim light.Before WW2, they used to play Rock of Ages at a particular giant stalagmite. But, with so many sons overseas,  people wept, and they stopped playing it.  When I came to the border at Blythe, there was a check station where officers checked for fruit.  You could not bring out of state fruit in because of disease and insects.  This had to be the most rushed trip I had ever taken: three thousand miles for two days back home.  But, seeing my Aunt Mimi was worth the trip in itself, and seeing Grandma and Grandpa Swanson's home on Polk street...that made it all worth while.  I was very tired when I finally turned onto Rosemary Ave.  Alot of kids out, some roller skating, some playing anti-anti over where you yelled that before you threw  ball over the house to the kid in the back yard.  Little groups of girls playing Jax in the front porch.  Some were playing hop-scotch using chalk-drawn squares on the side walk.  The Sun was setting over the Verdugos and painted this lovely portrait in the softest gold you can imagine.  It was gold...it sure was.  I parked the Hudson in the drive and brought my luggage in.  I checked the mail box; one letter from 3509.  Bob's Father wrote that what ever I had done with his son that night we went for a ride, had made a vast improvement in his study habits.He thanked me and said that Bob was quite upset at my disappearance.  He asked me to get in touch when I got home. This was very good news.  I thanked God for His kindness and the beauty of His ways.  One thing the trip made me aware of:  How permanent the Earth seems to be, and how transitory we are.  (to be continued)