WINTER TRAVEL
Shirley left a week ago today for Idaho Falls and it just makes you rave to think that it’s like a trip to another country to get to the southern part of your own state. You have to go to Lewiston and stay all night, then on to Grangeville where you arrive about 7 p.m. and stay all night, then to Boise and stay all night; arrive Idaho Falls at 4:30 next day. Her ticket from Grangeville was $13.45 one way. We arranged it so Henry Shockley could take her to Grangeville and that made it a lot easier as well as less expensive. It seems strange to be here alone again, and lonely. You must write to me, Vance. – Ina, 1934
And here we are in real time with a wintertime trip to the
southern part of our own state. Much of the route is not a lot better today
than it was 90 years ago. To me it still feels like a trip to another country.
In 1934, Ina prepared for Christmas without her daughter Shirley, but she knew that Shirley needed to get away from the cloistered life on the farm. In 1937, Shirley and Henry Shockley were married, and a few years after that, they moved to Seattle, ending Shirley’s companionship with Ina.
Christmas isn’t always a happy time, but if it doesn’t feel magical, try to make it magic anyway. A little magic never hurt anyone. KW
2 comments:
I remember when a cousin from Norway and her friend came to visit in 1999. We picked them up in Boise and brought them north to our house and all along the way I kept telling them we were still in Idaho! If they had been in Europe they'd have gone through half a dozen countries! I didn't realize that Shirley eventually ended up in Seattle.
The trip to Boise and back is a long drive and very little of it is easy.
Yes, Shirley and Henry moved to Seattle. They lived near White Center. He worked for Boeing.
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