First concert in Normandy area...

Cerisy Le Foret, France

 Left Paris about 9am and drove to a little village where we would all stay for the night in the home of a gal who helped plan the tour.  She has a house which was built in 1900.  It's in Cerisy Le Foret, population 800, surrounded by dairy farms with an elementary school across the street.  Children were at recess as we arrived and came running to peer at the visitors in town.

Shannon is an American but has lived in France as long as she lived in the States.  She is a translator of films here.

City Center...

 Cozzie and I stayed at the home while the others went to set up plus all else that was happening for this big event in the area.  Two other bands were opening with MBD beginning about 10pm.

 Cerisy Le Foret is nearly litter free.  It is a town half hour from Omaha Beach.  After 4 years of occupation by Germany, France began to be liberated on June 6, 1944.  This town was liberated on July 14, 1944.  It sustained much damage from bombs so has been largely rebuilt.

There is a memorial to honor the liberators of the town which is also true of most towns in the area I'm told.

 Little grocery store...

Selected bread, fruit, cheese and yogurt...

Headed off for a walk around town after a nice nap...

Abbey was built in 1042 and still stands with many rebuilds due to fires etc...

Cemetery across the street from the Abbey...

Probably a section of the original structure with newer beside it...

Property has two large, magnificent structures which are open to tourists only...

Beautifully maintained buildings and grounds...

Backside of the Abbey...

Watching the doggie and the horses...

Lovely fish pond on the edge of town...

Annual Sculpture event draws many renowned people who continue their creations each year...

Town's residents own farms that surround the village...

World War II Memorial..

"In Memory of our Liberators..."

The town's elementery school...

It's been a great day.  It's been wonderful to learn a bit more about THE GREATEST GENERATION of men who bravely stormed the beach at Normandy and began the liberation of France.

I'll learn about the concert in the morning.  Better get some sleep myself while Cozzie is down for the night.

Spring Afternoon in Paris, France...

Thanks Vodafone in Prague for free Wifi...

 Just as I finished my blog yesterday afternoon in Prague, James arrived.  He did a little work on my computer before we connected with the fellows who had delivered the rental van for our tour.

 Had another customer take our picture. 

We were soon off on our drive toward Paris.

A room had been arranged by James for a night in Mannheim, half way to Paris.  What a welcome site that bed was and I was soon into a refreshing 9 hour sleep!!!

Great scenery all the way out of Czech Republic and into Germany.  Rained much of the time after dark but not real hard.

Driving into Paris...

James drove most of the way but had me drive a couple hours today so that I could get used to the van as I'll be driving more as the tour continues.  It was a very manageable vehicle to drive.

I really enjoyed the countryside which is coming to life as spring has arrived in Europe.  Saw lots of fields waiting for the crops they'll grow this year.  Many solar panels covering buildings and fields.  Some wind turbines in view.

Lovely day all of today.  Needed a jacket and sometimes a scarf and gloves but had glorious sunshine.  A number of blooming shrubs and trees.

 Kept reminding myself that I was in Paris, France.  It reminds me much of New York City but English is not the language heard most often on the streets here.  It was fun to be buzzing in and out of the narrow streets and congested intersections.  Many people out strolling.

Mama and Cozzie...

 Found a parking place right in front of the hotel where these 2 had been waiting for us.  They arrived from playing at a little park as we were loading their luggage since we were moving to a hotel at the airport for tonight.   We will add the tour band drummer as he will arrive at the airport at 6:30am tomorrow morning.  By noon we'll head off to the first gig of the tour.

Maybe we can find something to eat here...

Found a FABULOUS place to pick up lunch items which we took to a nearby large, beautiful park which was being enjoyed by many adults and children.  Someone told us winter had been very severe in Europe this year but 2 days ago, spring arrived and everyone is so excited.

No idea why this was in the window of the pastry/sandwich shoppe but thought it was interesting as my tour family lives in Detroit when they aren't on the road.

A busy singer and I take a few moments for conversation and coffee...

 Coffee at a sidewalk cafe on a beautiful spring day in Paris, France!

Would I ever have imagined a moment like this when I sat leaning against a tree in the pasture on our farm as a child?  I used to let the cows get themselves back to the barnyard and I sat and pondered about my future.  Thanks, God, for so many blessings you have given me!!!

 Took lunch to a park so Cozzie could be free to play while the rest of us soaked in the beauty of the sunshiny day and the lovely park nearby in Paris, France. 

I kept wondering if I was really here.

Must be this limo that had brought a bride and bridal party to the park for photos but I didn't take their pictures.

There's an adorable fellow in the driver's seat here...

Still behind the wheel...

Has his own ball now and thinks it's lots of fun to throw and kick...

This delectable treat didn't last long when Cozzie discovered the fresh raspberries...

Daughter-in-law shared this with me...

DELICIOUS...

Sweet family as they relax before some intense weeks begin...

Waterfall in the park...

Paris from a park flowerbed...

From the park...

More from the park...

Still more from the park...

Trees grow in the park...

My strolling buddy...

Being a mother and grandmother is bringing great joy...

Now for a fun time on a slide...

Getting good at coming down backward...

Many adorable children enjoyed the park play area also...

Lots of fun...

Here I come...

Can you believe a Thrift Store was found before we left the city for the hotel for the night?

It has been a full but quite relaxing day - good conversation all along the way while driving, fun in the park and shared joy of being together and experiencing the blessing of God's beautiful creation - people and scenery. 

My trip is off to a great start.  Tomorrow will continue the actual concert tour as we head to western France for the first concert.

Safe Arrival in Prague...

AA took good care of me from San Antonio...

 I have free WiFi in Prague, Czech Republic so will add a few photos and a little update while I wait for son James to arrive.

Thanks, American Airlines, for safe flights from San Antonio to London with a brief stop in Dallas and a lengthy stop in Boston.

About to board in Boston...

I even managed to sleep quite a bit on the flights.  I appreciated the head rest that lets you adjust position in coach class.

Outside London Heathrow between flights...

London is getting ready for the Olympics and the airport is full of merchandise...

I'm across from this cool place in Prague as I use Wifi...

Son James will be arriving any minute but I'm thankful for the opportunity to update my blog so you will learn of my safe travels so far.

This Prague airport reminds me much of the airport in Moldova.

I'm using free WiFi at a VODAFONE store which is open on 2 sides and is part of the airport terminal.  The employee that helped me get set up, has been speaking a number of different languages as different customers come to do some business here.  That ability is so impressive.  Her English is perfect and probably her Russian, Czech and French are also.

Our drive to Paris will start within an hour.  We'll stop for the night somewhere and arrive in Paris tomorrow to add MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND, Cozzie and Brian the drummer.

Thanks for prayers.  More updates when possible.

Traveling to Europe...

 I have begun quite an adventure.

With hubby and daughter, I left home at 3am for the airport in San Antonio, TX.  With only 4 hours of sleep, I was still pretty tired as I checked in.  Had to rearrange some packing as one bag was 5lbs overweight and I couldn't squeak through.  Left a couple items with John and Sarah and moved other things to my bulging carry-on.

One hour flight to DFW - I slept the whole way.

Next flight was boarding as I got to the gate for the plane headed to Boston which is where I am now with a nice 8 hours to relax, have lunch, email, blog and read.  Slept on that flight also.

I will leave here about 8:15pm and arrive at London Hearthrow about 7am (their time).  Then I'll get my bags and check in on British Airways for a flight to Prague.  Son James will meet me there where the van that will be used for the tour will be delivered.  And we'll head off on a 12 hour drive to Paris.  That's where we'll pick up MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND, my little buddy, Cozzie and the drummer for the band.

I realize this isn't exactly gripping story telling but wanted to get started posting as my trip begins.  Plus I have Wifi here and am not sure when I'll be able to post again.

You might think I'm on a goofy itinerary but that's what happens when a person is determined to use a minimum of frequent flyer miles for a trip - leave very early and have some long layovers in  airports.  It's fine with me.  I enjoy travel and am able to relax when there's ample time between flights for just watching, thinking, eating and writing.

Will keep sharing the trip as I'm able to have internet service and time.

First Day of Job Hunting...

The story of my summer in Estes Park continues..
I concluded my last "chapter" with these words:

But a new day meant that job search must begin.  Somehow we got dressed and headed back toward town with plans to find a job.  


Our hopes were high...

Our hopes were high.  We were eager to get started as we felt sure there would be a job somewhere in that bustling tourist town.

One of the first things we wanted to do that day, however, was to find the Post Office.  We had not yet any way to inform our parents of our progress so far.  We had not made any calls to them since we left home about a week earlier. 

Mom had told us that she would write to us and send the letter to:  

• Linda & Kathy Groves
• General Delivery  Estes Park, CO
  
  We were very anxious to find the Post Office to see if there was a letter waiting for us there.  We would also explore the possibility of renting a Post Office Box so that we would have an address for those who would write us during the summer.
  
  Note:  I have just taken a break from writing in order to check a box with files I've had in storage for years.  The files contain the letters I wrote home to my parents since the time I left home and started college.  I have never reread these letters though I searched one time to find some information I was needing.
  
  I decided to see if there were my letters home from Estes Park and I am delighted to say that they are in the file and 
  I wrote often and in lengthy detail. 
  
  At some point I will share quotes from these letters but right now it is late and I will conclude with a few items which clarify things I've already shared.
  
  My memory has been very accurate for the most part.  My letters state that my sister and I paid  $.50 / night to stay in the bunkhouse.  Mom Manford was 90 years old and very spry.
  
  We began our job search immediately going in and out of businesses with everyone saying the same thing:  
  

  "We  have all the employees we need right now"

  Some people suggested we return in a few days or told us of another establishment that might need a worker.
  
  I do not know when we received our first letter from home.  I saved those letters also but I have not gotten those located yet.  Mom was very faithful - in writing and in praying.
  
  I will continue this story but I'm not sure how much more I will write this week.  I am leaving for Europe very early Saturday morning so there are things I'm working on this week to be ready for that trip.  I will be traveling with one of my sons, his wife and their 20 month old son as they do a concert tour in Europe.
  
  I hope to be able to blog about our tour.  The Estes Park stories may wait until later.  I'll return to the states on April 17th.
  
  Please leave a comment if you are reading these blogs.  It is fun to know if there's an interest in keeping this story going.
  
  

Meeting Mom Manford...

This story began on 3-8-12
Last paragraph yesterday:

With her name and address, hope in our hearts and the need for a bed for the night, we headed off in the direction of her home on the south east edge of town.

***************************************
I was very grateful for a sister with whom to share my experiences in the summer of 1964.  We were both focused on the same need so there was no argument concerning what we needed to do next.  

Somehow we learned what direction to head in order to find Mom Manford's home.  It seemed people in that community knew who she was.  Fortunately it was a beautiful day so being on foot did not present a problem.

It was probably about 2 miles from the Employment office to Mom Manford's home.  Both my sister and I were used to physical exertion - farm girls?  Plenty of physical labor in our background.  And the University of Wisconsin is built on rolling hills so I had tramped many miles in going to classes over the past year.  Hiking around Estes Park was not daunting.

It was on our way to Mom Manford's home that we passed the little Baptist Church I mentioned earlier.  The sign out front informed us that there were services on Sunday morning and evening and a Thursday evening service.  We made mental note.  We were not Baptists but we knew they were as evangelical as the church in which we had grown up.  I had also attended a Baptist Church part of the time during my year in Madison, WI at the University.

We found Mom Manford's home, knocked on her door and she welcomed us in when we introduced ourselves and let her know how we had been given her name and address.  Her home was humble as was this 89 year old woman.  Getting to know her could wait.  We just needed a place to stay so that was our greatest concern.

With great relief, we were told we were welcome to stay in the bunk house that night.  Someone else was staying in the cottage which had a kitchen area.  The bunk house had just beds and a bath.  But since the Inter-Varsity group from Bear Trap Ranch would be arriving on the 4th of July, we would have to find other housing arrangements by then.  

We had 2 weeks of housing!  That was wonderful!!!  

Since we had left our suitcases at the bus station, we needed to return there to pick those up.  So back to the street to retrieve our bags.  

As we walked through town, we were noticing all the shops, restaurants and businesses which had employees. We began to formulate a game plan for finding jobs for ourselves.  We knew Estes Park was a vacation destination for many so great numbers of college kids were hired for summer employment.  Hopefully we would soon be amongst the employed.  We felt we could earn the most money if we were hired as waitresses so we would seek jobs in a restaurant first.

All was safe with our things back at the bus station!  But since we had packed almost everything we owned, we decided to use taxi service for transport back to Mom Manford's bunk house.  It had already been a long day and we didn't think we could carry our heavy bags back across town.  


We must have gotten something to eat along the way but I have no recollection of where or what we ate that day.


The bunk house was a bit rustic but we didn't mind.  We had a bed and a safe place for the night so we were content.  I don't think Mom Manford required any payment for the use of her housing.  She generously allowed us to be sheltered under her roof.


Life in the mountains was new to us.  We did not realize that nighttime temperatures could be much different from daytime temperatures.  


As we awakened in the morning, we discovered that "winter" had blown in.  The outside temperature was 36 degrees and so was the inside temperature because we discovered a broken window beside our beds and no heat in the bunk house!  Cold wind was blowing across our beds.


But a new day meant that job search must begin.  Somehow we got dressed and headed back toward town with plans to find a job.  


Our hopes were high...
 

June 1964 - Looking for a summer job...

I concluded yesterday's post with these lines:

When we arrived there, we were applicants numbers 95 and 96 to apply for jobs.... that day!!!  


And we were told there were no jobs for any of us!!!
************************************************************
The story continues...

Though it seemed nearly hopeless, we filled out application forms and walked back onto the street.  What good that did I don't really know because we had no way of any prospective employer to locate us.  Of course there were no cell phones and since we didn't have a place of residence yet, we had no contact info.  We must have left the office promising to return often for updates on local job openings.  We were advised by the office personnel that our only way to find a job would be to walk into all local establishments, introduce ourselves and ask if there were any job openings.  Maybe in time there would be something.
Our most pressing need at the moment, however, was to find a place to spend the night and the foreseeable future.  

I can't remember how much money we had between us but it wasn't much - probably about $20.00.

The travel route we had taken to get to Estes Park had taken us by train from near our farm home to Madison, WI.  The passenger train for Madison stops in Columbus, WI where Madison bound passengers get off and board a bus to Madison.  


In Madison, we joined a few Inter-Varsity friends who were driving to Colorado Springs in order to attend a 3- wk conference at Bear Trap Ranch.  That camp grounds is 18 miles (over an hour's drive) into the mountains above the Springs.  


We could have attended that conference but we didn't have the financial means to pay for the cost of it and we assumed it would be wise to get to Estes Park as soon as possible in order to find a job and start making money.  


We arrived at Bear Trap Ranch in the afternoon of probably June 12th or 13th.  We were able to spend the night and get a meal and a ride into town the next morning where we were taken to the Greyhound Bus station.


We had the name of a family who lived in Boulder, CO - outside of Denver.  This family was related to a family we knew quite well in our home church in Winona, MN.  We had been assured that they would welcome us and give us a place to spend an overnight if we needed it.  I can't actually remember if we called ahead to alert them to our planned arrival or if we called them from the Bounder bus station when we arrived there.  However it happened, they did pick us up and took us in for a couple of days.  They were kind and friendly and showed us around Boulder.


Their hospitality meant a great deal to us as we had definitely embarked on an adventure for which we were nearly totally unprepared.

• We were from a dairy farm family - that means you milk cows morning and evening 365 days of each year.  There is not freedom to be away from the cows even if you had money for such an opportunity which our family did not.

  

  Our farm in later years - still picturesque and stately

• We attended church 3 times a week and drove 7 miles from the farm to our church - Lakeside Evangelical Free Church, Winona, MN.  

  

  Lakeside Evangelical Free Church - no longer used as a church

  
  



My sisters and I were a singing trio at Lakeside during our high school years - L-R Barbara, Kathleen & Linda

• We had attended a one-room country school with about 24 - 26 other farm kids;

  

  My family outside Cross Ridge School when we attended a reunion in June 2009



Cross Ridge School classmates who gathered for a reunion in June 2009 - same blackboard we had in the 1950's

• there were 43 in my high school graduating class;
• but I had spent a year with 5000 other freshmen at the University of WI in Madison.  
• Our family had attended some family reunions with a 75 mile drive to those destinations - between milking times
• but we had never been on a family vacation; 
• never spent a night in a motel; 
• slept in a tent at Bible camp;
• had only eaten a few meals at an A&W Root Beer Stand
• and once at a newly opened McDonald's

I do not remember being afraid as we began our trip to CO.  I'm quite sure I was confident and optimistic.  I trusted God and knew we would find something waiting for us in Estes Park.

We would learn later that our mother wept as she watched us board the train and leave.  She had done her best to try to locate summer jobs for us closer to home but to no avail.  She spent many sleepless nights praying and worrying about our well being.   


Inter-Varsity had a summer program at that time which trained students who attended the Bear Trap Ranch June conference to be Christ's ambassadors on their campuses and among their friends and in whatever relationships they were able to establish while being employed.  Students who were at Bear Trap Ranch in June, would arrive in Estes Park at the end of their training.  They would locate jobs and begin to share their faith with new friends.  An Inter-Varsity staff member/s would be with them to encourage and mentor/disciple these college kids.  It seemed like a wonderful plan but without the money for the June conference, that program was not within our reach.


The girl who had told me about her waitress job in Estes Park, had been part of this program the year before.


There was an elderly woman known as Mom Manford, who lived in Estes Park.  She had been a missionary in Siam which is now, Thailand.  She had a Bunk House and a cottage on her property.  The Inter-Varsity group would stay in that housing when they arrived from Bear Trap Ranch around the 4th of July.


We had been given Mom Manford's name and address during our stopover at Bear Trap Ranch.  We had been told that she might offer us a place to stay if we showed up at her door.


With her name and address, hope in our hearts and the need for a bed for the night, we headed off in the direction of her home on the south east edge of town.


Until tomorrow...

Introducing My Friend Joyce...

My sister, Kathy (on the right in this photo) and I with Joyce in the middle.

I want you to meet a very special friend of mine.  Her name is Joyce and I met her in June of 1964.  I was 19 and I think she was 37.  We met the summer my sister, Kathy, and I traveled to Estes Park, CO for summer jobs to help with college expenses.  There are so many stories about that summer.  Perhaps those will come in time.  

Today I want to introduce you to Joyce.  She had an amazing impact on me during that summer and she is still one of the women God uses in my life to model his character and encourage me to be the person he wants me to be. 

I met Joyce and her husband, George, at a little Baptist church a few days after my sister and I arrived in Estes Park by Greyhound bus.  The date of our arrival was Tuesday, June 16, 1964.  

(Some dates are permanently chiseled in my memory bank.) 

Neither my sister nor I had secured jobs before our arrival.  I had just finished my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and my sister had just graduated from high school.  We were 1,200 miles from home - a dairy farm high on a bluff above the Mississippi River in west-central WI.  

My childhood home on a bluff above the Mississippi River near Fountain City, WI.

During my college year, I had been involved in Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and there met a gal who had spent the previous summer working as a waitress in Estes Park.  She had worked for about two months and had saved $600.00.  In 1964, that was a lot of money.  It was nearly enough to cover the cost of a year of college which for me was about $800.00.

Since I needed to pay most of my way for college, I thought I needed to get myself to Estes Park where there would certainly be an opportunity for me to make and save money also.  And my younger sister was ready for adventure so decided to join me.

It was just before noon when our bus pulled into town.  We left our heavy suitcases with nearly all of our earthly possessions at the bus station, asked directions to the employment office in town and headed off on foot.

When we arrived there, we were applicants numbers 95 and 96 to apply for jobs.... that day!!!  

And we were told there were no jobs for any of us!!!

We'll pick up the story next time.