VACATION VISITORS AVOID A NEAR TRAGEDY

One good thing about having family visitors with us on their vacation is that the cousins get to know each other better. Living many thousands of miles apart can make it difficult to agree on vacation times together. After we moved to a warmer area in the winter it was easier for those living on farms to come south for a little respite in the winter months. Our parents were always welcome and one winter Bob decided it would be good to take a short vacation to Hawaii to check out a possible move there for a transfer as a technical representative. We gave Ken the choice of coming with us or staying with his grandparents and keep the price of his ticket. Grandpa was teaching him to play chess and he opted to stay with them. Years later in High School, he was voted school president of the Chess Club. Bob had been having headaches and doctors could not help him. He thought a different climate might be of help. Later it was found to be the chemicals supplied at work as a technical representative and he brought his problem with him.

Another winter my brother with his wife and family came to California for a few winter months. This time their new son was with them. Since the guest room required making a left turn for a few steps Bob decided it would be a good idea to wire up a warning bell in case the baby had a problem and his call for help could not be heard above the regular family noise. He enjoyed making such items and only two days later we were all sitting at the dinner table when a struggle was heard from the baby’s room. With very fast footsteps Anne rushed in to find he had a plastic bag over his face. One of his very contrite siblings had been playing with him and been careless with a plastic bag. Handy, but also very dangerous and we now notice that all plastic wrapping bags with purchases have a printed warning that says “This plastic bag is not a toy – keep it away from children.” We were all very thankful for the warning bell Bob had installed.