(Widower 33) I left after a month in Port Ludlow for the trip home to Ruston.

I stopped in Oregon City to have lunch with the family of my sister Dallas. Grandson David, daughter in law, Lynna Mae, and son Monte.

Dallas had passed away since my previous visit to Oregon City. We talked about her last years. I miss Dallas. She was my last sibling. Now I am the only one left of nine children.

I had a sister in law left. Novelle, the widow of my brother George, was still alive in Van Nuys, California. I planned to go by and see her. And I did. She and I were the only ones left alive from the eighteen adults of the families of the nine Monson children. I did stop to see her. I am glad I did. She recently passed away. On my last phone call to her a few months ago we talked for an hour and a half.

From Oregon City I drove to Roseburg, Oregon. Two children of my sister Thelma live there. They were raised in the sage brush covered oil fields of Kern County. (Weedpatch and Taft) They retired to the green country of Oregon. I think that they like the change.

Standing in front of ten acres of watermelons. Niece Dorothy and nephew Bobbie are in the center. 

Spouses are Harry and Janet

From Roseburg I drove to Eureka, California. I wanted to visit my old walking buddy, Jim Spaulding. We had supper at the old lumber camp cookhouse in Samoa.

The meals are served cookhouse style. Delicious. If you are ever in Eureka, California be sure to eat at the Samoa Cookhouse.

After a night of rest I drove to Modesto, California to visit my son, Mike and family.

Drew, Lily, Mike, and Rebecca. What a good group.

From Modesto to Hanford to visit Donna Sue, the daughter of my sister Donna. A special girl lives here. She is Bella, my only great great great great grand niece. She walked over and sat in my lap. Was I a happy great great great great grand uncle? I sure was.

Over to Coalinga to visit Charlyn and Keith Hintergardt. Our dear friends of our stay in Coalinga in the 1960s.

On to Van Nuys and lunch with Novelle Monson and her family. This is the last time that I saw Novelle. Novelle's grandson Lee, her daughter in law, and her son George Monson joined us for lunch.

Then a wonderful visit with Nancy and Bob in Dana Point. Bob's Mother, Jerry, treated us to supper.

A short ride over to Corona to the Shaifai home. As usual we go to eat. My sweet Annie and her three boys. Jack, Charlie, and Max at the local Big Boy.

A long ride to Maricopa, Arizona to visit Sharon Jordan. She took me to the Casino.

A long long ride to Las Cruces, New Mexico to see the Friels. Bill and Lois.

A double long ride to Ruston, Louisiana. See the cake that Rhonda had for me?

Welcome Home, Prune Picker. So there is a brief review of my return from Washington in 2012. There are blogs for these stops. See my archives of August, 2012.

 Next and last trip in 2012 was to Panama City. Stay tuned. (A Wedding)