Mom: No car seat laws back then. We had a little "hookover" carseat in the middle of the front seat for Jeni. No bucket seats then. We put blankets in the far back behind the back seat for a play and sleep area. We sometimes would drive all night to get here, so that you kids would sleep most of the way---no ipads or DVDs or movies or computer games back then to entertain you kids. So traveling all night (14 hour trip the first years we were there, then with added freeways and highways, it got down to 12 hours) was easier on us in one way (kids asleep), but hard on us to not fall asleep ourselves when driving--I remember Dad taking caffeine tablets to help him stay awake. And I didn't dare go to sleep because I wanted to keep him talking and help him stay awake. Then when we got here and had to face the day with no sleep was hard. I remember my eyes would feel "burny" all that day.
Scott: I thought it was a 1972 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate station wagon with an Oldsmobile 454 engine. I learned to drive in that car. I remember floating over gravel roads out by Dugway (stake ranch) at 90 mph when I was probably 15. I remember the "far back". Never wanted to sit there.
Jen: I did NOT want to learn to drive. To make things worse, I had to both learn to drive, and learn a stick shift ... because we ONLY had stick shifts then. Whereas some parents might bribe their kids with "if you get A's in school, we'll let you get your license and drive the car" our parents had to say "you can't be in any more plays until you get your license!" Mom would stop the car and get out and force me to drive home. Dad would trick me into turning onto the freeway. I eventually mastered it, although driving has always been an issue with me (and has again become worse in my old age). I never had my own car. Chris went on his mission and I was able to drive his Subaru while he was gone. Grayson and I bought our first car (a little Honda Accord for $2000) the day before we got married.
1989 - Too many cars for the driveway!
We need to get a good picture of the little blue truck. So few miles for its 20+ years. It's been borrowed by many a kid over the years. Just recently (2020), both Keaton and Adria tried out their "stick shift" abilities.
In 2013 Mom and Dad bought a nice new Lexus.
Then there was a bad accident.
It's incredible that they weren't hurt.
They replaced that Lexus with another Lexus - it had protected them well!
More cars from the Westra past ...
1962 - After the Wedding!
1963
Mom: When I was a teen, I could name every car make and model on the road, but not anymore! I learned to drive down in Sanpete County when we visited grandparents. Safer because there weren't many cars on the road, but.......there were lots of herds of sheep in the road and you just had to slowly creep your car through them. But I had to learn on a stick shift and trying to slowly make my way through the sheep and me jerking trying to handle the gas, the brake, and the clutch, I was sure I was going to kill several sheep every time!!
Mom and Dad's first apartment on McClelland Street in 1962.
Dad is standing in the doorway top right. The car is a 1958 Chevrolet.
1968 in Richland
1971
Two cars at the Hermitage house. 1976.
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