🎄🎄🎄🎄1965~ Christmas Holiday trip to Chicago, Illinois

In the winter of 1965, my Dad, Uncle Harry, Vicki, and I traveled to Chicago, Illinois, in a 1961 Green Plymouth.

I can still see my dad driving through Nashville, Tennessee. 

It was the Christmas holidays, everywhere we looked, we saw twinkling lights, manger scenes, and homes beautifully decorated. 

A warm, glowing feeling came over me as we passed through other smaller towns that were also beautifully decorated for the holidays.

The drive took about ten to twelve hours; there were not many direct highways or interstates from Florence, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois. 

I don't remember the route we took, but I do remember going around a lot of curves and squealing the tires. 

It was late at night, and everyone had fallen asleep except Dad, who was doing the driving. 

We had come to Turkey Run in Indiana, an area known for its many curves. 

Dad came upon the curves too fast, and the tires squealed as we started around the first curve. 

The sound of the squealing tires woke everyone up We stayed awake for the rest of the trip. 

Early the next morning, we crossed the Kingery Highway Cal-Sag Bridge into Cook County, Illinois. I can still remember that awful smell of sewage as we crossed the bridge. 

Kingery Highway Cal-Sag Bridge (Copy from the Internet)

There was a song playing on the radio as we crossed the bridge into Chicago, 

"Five o'clock World" by the Vogues in 1965 was a single that reached #4 on the charts.

It is funny the things you remember from your childhood.

Aunt Betty lived in an apartment on the fourth floor, there were no elevators, we had to walk up and down four flights of stairs.

We had a great time visiting our cousins and their friends and playing cards on the stairs.

I can still hear the laughter of my cousin's friends, Iggy and Freddy, as we played tag.

I had a crush on Iggy. 

Our stay was a short one, and Harry had to get back to work.

My dad is an adventurous person; he never plans anything.

My dad can fix anything; he is a great mechanic, and he never worries about his car breaking down when traveling.

I am adventurous like my dad, usually after a long winter, and when spring is near, I get the urge to travel. 

It doesn't have to be a long trip, but it must be a trip!

I am waiting for my next adventure.

Song by the Vogues

"Five o'clock World" by the Vogues in 1965 was a single that reached #4 on the charts.

Up every mornin' just to keep a job

I must fight my way through the hustling mob

Sounds of the day poundin' in my brain 

While another day goes down the drain (yeah, yeah, yeah)

But it's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows

No one owns a piece of my time

And there's a five o'clock me inside my  clothes

Thinkin' that the world looks fine, yeah

(Scat:oh-de-lay-ee-ee, yeah, yeah)

Hey!

Tradin' my time for the pay I get

Livin' on money that I ain't made yet

I've been goin', tryin' to make my way

While I live for the end of the day (yeah, yeah, yeah)

'Cause it's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows

No one owns a piece of my time

There's a long-haired girl who waits, I know

To ease my troubled mind, yeah

(Scat:oh-de-lay-ee-ee, yeah)

Hey!

In the shelter of her arms, everything's ok

When she talks, the world slips away

And I know the reason I can still go on 

When every other reason is gone, (yeah, yeah, yeah)

In my five o'clock world, she waits for me

Nothing else matters at all

Cuz every time my baby smiles at me 

I know that it's all worthwhile, yeah

(Scat:oh-de-lay-ee-ee, yeah)