LA Traffic

We had successfully escaped getting stuck in the vast LA freeway system, since we usually have taken surface roads to our destinations.  Also, where we were staying was rather central to where we wanted to go.    However, today when we went to the Reagan Library it was so far, that we really needed to take the freeways.  We did think that on Saturday they wouldn’t be so busy.  Wrong.

Of course, some of you are used to this

“Surface Roads”

     We’ve gotten quite a chuckle together with our friend who had never heard the term “surface roads” before – maybe you haven’t either?  She asked, “Don’t all roads have surfaces?” Seems the explicit definition is a road that is not elevated like the freeways are.  Well, freeways are not always elevated, but indeed, we use the term to be any road other than freeways. That is, Joan does.

     “Side roads” do not really describe them either, since those can be very small, nor does the term “residential roads” describe them.  What we have traveled on so well on this trip were the 4-lane roads that go through the suburbs, and they were fine to use despite businesses and stoplights. 

    The history of roads is really quite interesting to look up –

Today, however, we got caught in the traffic coming back from the Reagan Library…. 

The Reagan Presidential Library

Statues and interactive slide show to match!

 Ron wanted to visit the Reagan Library and Museum so since it was about 2 hours away, we waited until Saturday to go so that Clayton could go with us.  It was great – we spent five hours there – (again until it closed!)  It was excellently presented, with so many short videos of Reagan’s speeches, but presented in an interesting way, and many multimedia presentations.  There were also some interactive games that were “cute”? – but, again, interesting.  They had his actual Air force One plane there (Nixon’s had just had a model.)   They had had to take it apart to get it there and then built the glass room around it.  

Beautiful entrance

Welcome!

Together!

Air Force One - inside!

A fabulous multimedia historical perspective!

By the Berlin Wall

A presidential speech!  Shows how the tele-prompter works.

Interactive games, several to choose from

Clayton likes these games!

The Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

What a great place to visit…and we spent 6 hours and still didn’t read everything (the AAA book says allow 2 hour minimum.)  Joan thinks she understands the Watergate situation a little better as there was quite a display.  The tapes are actually there in the Research building.

      We got back to campus in time to take Clayton out to eat dinner.

All the Time magazine covers Nixon was on

Model of his AirForce 1

Life-sized models of world leaders

Many examples of Nixon's trips for peace.

A segment of the Berlin Wall

 

Finding a Cousin

Lightpost has their names

    Today Ron wanted to try to find the house in Alhambra where his dad's cousin lives and who did not write back to his letter that we were coming.  As well, the phone was disconnected when he called.  The cousin, Chuck, is 93, so who knows...?  It's only about 20 miles away, but it took us an hour to get there using the surface roads rather than the freeway.  But traffic wasn’t bad and we had the time.

  They were home after all!!  Chuck had gotten the letter but too many things were going on to answer...his wife (Grace) was on Hospice last Christmas which Ron knew -- that's why he was so afraid maybe something had happened.  However, she was at home, but in bed and with oxygen etc.  She was actually quite chipper.  They both were soooo glad to see us- also their daughter Charlene was there too, and she was so glad to see us.  We had a real nice visit.  Chuck says he still drives his car and has not gotten a ticket for 60 years!

      When Ron told Chuck we had been to Normandy and knew he had been there on D - Day, he said, “I can't talk about it.”  A lot of guys feel that way still… even over 70 years later.