I heard the term often growing up, “Oh, they are just out for a Sunday afternoon drive,” my dad would say when we’d get behind someone driving a bit slow. And on special Sundays, it would be our little family out for that drive. Especially if we had been to my grandparents house where my folks grew up. I loved seeing the gymnasium where my mom used to play basketball and the creek where my dad would have fist fights. he would always win, ya know! And yes, I even loved driving the distance of how far they walked to school in 8 feet of snow. My mind would try to see them in that place. Kids. But they were certainly not kids without cares. My dad was the oldest of eleven children. My mom was the second oldest of eight. There were many chores on their farms that had to be completed BEFORE walking to school. And then more to do when they got home. How did they do it? Did they complain? I don’t know. I doubt it though. It was just what they did to survive.
When hubby and I married, it was a relief to find out that he too, grew up with parents that on occasion, would venture out on those Sunday afternoon drives. We took our boys on those drives when they were still at home. It was great family time. Hubby and I still enjoy this tradition. Perhaps because on our way to nowhere, we never know who or what we might find ~
Happy Weekend, friends ~ Be good to others, it will be returned to you ♥
stuff i tell my sister 
Great post, Paula! We would go for Sunday drives in Michigan, out to see the fall colors, and inevitably we would end up at a cider mill and go home with a bushell of MacIntosh apples to make the back of our VW bus smell sweet.
I have only been to Michigan one time. While there we went to a huge apple festival and had the greatest time ever! A forever memory ♥ I am picturing that VW bus…yellow? 🙂
Fire engine red!
oh even better!!!
Brings back many memories for me also ♥
I always forget I can’t do the heart….sorry 🙂
But you know I can always fix your heart….no worries ♥
Our Sunday drives were typically into Manhattan, since we were right over the bridge. But the memories of being together in the car, people-watching, listening to music, my sister immediately falling asleep once the car got going, remain with me today. There’s nothing like getting lost to feel at your most secure, huh?
windows down and story telling….lost? that was never admitted! 🙂
Our Sunday drives in Minnesota were usually out to someone’s farm for Sunday dinner or to one of the nearby lakes – we had five surrounding our town. Great memories:)
Nothing better than dinner on the farm! My big sis was born in Slaten, Minnesota. My dad was in the service. I have heard the SNOW stories! I’m guessing those lakes were beautiful! 🙂
Yes, they were beautiful and they were all connected by canals. I learned to swim, ice skate, and got baptized in three of three of them:) A lovely place to “be from.”
Great, great memories. And I understand that “be from ” stuff ♥
I used to love Sunday afternoon drives with my grandparents. It was amusing to see other drivers get upset at my Grandpa going 30 in a 55 zone as he showed us where he used to feed cows. Silly.
Awww….good memories. Folks then & now should learn to relax a bit! haha
We used to do Sunday drives as well and I do miss it.
It’s never too late to go again~ 🙂
Your good memories of Sunday drives made me recall the odd way my family spent Sunday afternoons. In the mid 1930’s (Depression Era) we moved from tiny little Braman, OK to Whittier, CA. Outside of town is the well-known Rose Hills Cemetery. We had never seen such beautiful greenery and lovely tombstones. We would sit up there on those green grassy hills, under big shade trees, eat our lunch, and read dates on the tombstones. Many family pictures were taken on our old Kodak camera, during a Sunday Drive through the cemetery. When you are poor, you find strange ways to enjoy yourself!
Hubby & I go to old cemetaries, too. We look at the names and the dates, it’s just a good quiet place to ponder on things~ Rose Hills sounds like a very pretty cemetary! ♥ A good Sunday afternoon and I don’t find odd at all. 🙂
My family went for Sunday drives too!
I didn’t like going because I always got car sick…
I did too! Had to have those windows down!!!
Lovely post and pics, Paula. My dad was a great one for the Sunday afternoon drive, and also used to join the hoards of other motorists on the roads on Bank Holidays in England. We’d sit patiently waiting in traffic jams for hours, but nothing would deter him 😉
Thanks for sharing your reflections ♥ Sounds like a very determined man 🙂 This would be similar to our Thanksgiving Eve trips….with everyone on the road to Grandma’s house 🙂
Well yes, I guess so, except that we never seemed to have a definite destination, and often didn’t even get out of the car unless we needed the loo. 😉
A “wander” journey, for sure, then….or maybe that should be “wonder”? 🙂
I posted of our Sunday drives with our Dad…best of the best memories. Glad you and Hubby still do it too. I still do it, when I visit home…just not a Sunday without it. 🙂
agree! 🙂