Here are a few closing thoughts regarding our pilgrimage from South Louisiana to South Dakota that our extended family of 17 took to trace our family's footprints back to the family farm outside Volga, South Dakota. You may have seen the previous posts on the adventures, but if not, you can click on the following:
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| The Sneve Family Farm |
The trip back was a blur. We talked on the way home about all the things we learned, the wonderful relatives that went out of their way to welcome us, feed us, show us around, and answer all of our questions. Here is a little review in a format I call By The Numbers:
1: The number of times we got pulled over by the Highway Patrol. It wouldn't be a family vacation without flashing lights in the rear view mirror, now would it? Fortunately, the officer only issued me a warning ticket and it was for a busted tail light on the rental van. We didn't bust it. It was given to us in that condition.
2: The number of times we pulled over on the side of the road when restrooms weren't conveniently located.
4: The number of rocks from the 'Rock Box' at Crazy Horse Mountain that we took home.
7: The number of boys chasing (and almost catching) a rabbit in the parking lot of The Millstone Family Restaurant in Rapid City, SD before a woman came outside the restaurant and yelled, "You boys leave that poor rabbit alone!"
34: The number of license plates from the US and provinces of Canada found by the losing vehicle in the license plate game.
38: The number of license plates from the US and provinces of Canada found by the winning vehicle in the license plate game.
3,100: The number of miles we put on the Acadia (the chase vehicle) that also served as a time out vehicle and quarantine vehicle when travelers got sick.
3,391.2: The number of miles we put on the white van
Innumerable: The number of restrooms in truck stops, gas stations, welcome centers, restaurants and hotels that we stopped in. I feel like we could write reviews on the best and the worst. One stands out for its cleverness: The Valley Restaurant in Volga, South Dakota had a sign in the restroom over the urinal that said: "My aim is to keep this bathroom clean. YOUR aim would help!"
One night while in Brookings, South Dakota, we went out to see a couple of movies. Those older than 13 saw "Unbroken" and those younger than 13 saw "Night at the Museum 2." Both movies were good and very fitting for the trip. Unbroken was about a story of survival in a very harsh environment, and Night at the Museum 2 was about history coming alive. I think both of those themes dove-tailed nicely with our family heritage trip.
We wanted to all pose in front of the van when we returned home, but we arrived in the middle of a torrential downpour, so we were only able to get the nose of the van and some tired travelers in the photo. Upon turning off the engines, I am happy to report that all 17 of us are still on speaking terms. Seriously. We grew closer as a family on the trip despite close proximity to one another. In fact, somewhere between Paris, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana, delirium set in from a 12 hour drive and we all were singing Alan Jackson's "Remember When" and Jason Aldean's, "Amarillo Sky," and Carrie Underwood's, "Something in the Water" to the top of our lungs in addition to a new favorite by Rhett Akins called "Duck Blind." It was something to hear, I tell you.
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| Home, Home in the RAIN! |
This evening I was thinking about my grandfather (Poppy). All he knew was life on the farm and going to a one room school house. He went to college and was in ROTC and soon his life would be changed forever. He'd be shipped down to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana for military training, meet the lady that he'd marry (my grandmother, Bumby), be shipped off to fight in the European theater of operations in Belgium (The Battle of the Bulge), and later return home and raise his family in Louisiana.
Through a lot of chaos, uncertainly, danger and change, he never abandoned the principles that guided his life: an unwavering trust in the Almighty, a love for family, compassion for people, a heart for service and good citizenship. After seeing where he grew up, I can see clearly where those attributes were forged. Here's a very small example: Growing up back in the early 70's when I'd eat at Bumby & Poppy's house (my grandmother and grandfather), Poppy would always take us kids into the pink tiled bathroom to wash our hands before going to the table to eat. That bathroom had a ceramic heater built in to the wall. If I close my eyes I can still smell the scent of the match burning mixed with the smell of natural gas burning when it would be lit.
Anyway, Poppy would wash all of our hands in a curious way - for me at least. He would pull the stopper and fill the sink about halfway with warm water. Then he'd stand behind us and wash all of our hands with soap in the water in the sink and dry our hands. I had always just run the water while I washed my hands. Not Poppy. He was a conservationist. He was "green" before it was cool to be "green."
He didn't learn that from a public service announcement. I think that mindset was something forged outside of Volga, South Dakota on the farm. You see the only running water they had was if they went running to get it. Translation: You had to go to a well or pump it. I think that stuck with him. He knew scarcity. He knew how precious resources are and what an obscenity it is to waste them and wanted to pass along that virtue (among many others) to us. He was a mountain of a man who left a strong, enduring legacy and if I only aspire to do a fraction of what he did, I would be successful.
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| Welcome Home! |
It was very quiet when we returned home with just the five of us. We hooked the camera up to the TV and viewed all the pictures and relived each day's events. It was truly a memorable experience and one we won't forget. Thanks to Mom & Dad for making this happen! Thanks to all of our fellow family members for joining in on all the fun. Thanks to all of our relatives from the North for your hospitality!
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