Traditionally, Mark and I go to Tombstone for his birthday on March 14th, but I wasn’t here then, so we went today. In the meantime, today was Lauryn’s first day with Dad. She had asked him where he’d like to go for a drive and he wanted to go to the Aviation and Space Center in McMinville, Oregon. They have the Spruce Goose there, the plane that Howard Hughes built. I’ll share pictures from both trips.
Morning:
I didn’t think they’d be able to get Dad into their truck because it sits up high, but I guess they figured out a way. My nephew, Nate, is helping on the left as Dad holds onto my brother-in-law, Rob.On their wayMeanwhile, Mark and I arrived in Tombstone.Mark caught me just after I had taken a picture of that quilt block in the window.Mark was intrigued by the characters in the street……and I captured this picture of Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp, and Doc Holladay talking with another cowboy before the reenactment of the shootout at the OK Corral. Back to Rob and Dad, the family had just watched one IMAX movie at the Aviation and Space Center and Dad decided he wanted to see a second one. Here they were getting popcorn for the second movie.Dad fell asleep during the second movie.
Lunchtime:
Mark and I decided to eat at the Crystal Palace. This very trusting dog was sprawled out on its back in the middle of the floor sleeping.We were seated on the balcony, my favorite place to sit here because……we were close enough to see the bulletholes in the ceiling above our head.A very talented man was playing keyboard and trumpet at the same time on the stage!When the musician sang songs Mark knew, he sang along.Our waitress dressed as a dance hall girlThe food was good!Up north, Dad was eating clam chowder at McMinnamins with my sister, Lauryn.
Afternoon:
After lunch, it was back to the museum for Dad and Nate. Lauryn and Rob were there too, just not in the picture.Mark and I wandered up and down the street. One of these times, I’d like to take a stagecoach ride through Tombstone.A street singer with a banjoI saw this sign about the Pendleton Roundup in Oregon while I was waiting for Mark to try on an outfit. He got some old Western pants with suspenders that button on. In another store, we found a period shirt to go with it. I told Mark that he should come and help at the Noble House in his new costume!Something we missed doing last year was getting an old-fashioned picture taken of Mark and me, so this year, we made sure to sign up early enough to get it done before they closed the shop.And of course, we had to stop at the Sweet Sin shop for gelato and flavored ice.
Back to Lauryn and Dad, one of the places Dad had also wanted to go was Lincoln City at the coast. When he decided to stay at the museum most of the day and they left at 4:00, he said he’d still like to go to Lincoln City. Lauryn told him that it would be dark on the way back if they went to the coast so late in the day. Dad suggested that maybe they could spend the night. Lauryn asked him if he was trying to escape and he said, “In a way.” She reminded Dad that they hadn’t come prepared to spend the night away from home. She felt so bad for him. He really enjoyed his day out and wanted it to keep going.
