Fred Elder, Age 6, With Suitcase
I am lucky in that I have been to several interesting places, including walking the stairs to the top of the Washington Monument. But I thought I would start with a couple of early places I have been.
First is my trip to Wichita, Kansas. Many of you will say, so what – you grew up in Wichita. While that is true, I was born in Oklahoma, where I lived until I was an older five-year-old. During my Oklahoma days, I lived in Okmulgee and in Muskogee. When the appointed day arrived for the ‘big’ move to Wichita, a grain truck arrived at our modest dwelling in Okmulgee and the things we owned were placed in the bed of the truck – and as I remember, the truck was uncovered, except for a tarp.
Next, my mother and I (with my dog) climbed into the cab of the truck with the driver (you see, we had no car) and we were off. I do not remember the ride to Wichita. Perhaps I slept. When we arrived at our duplex on South Lulu, unloading took place and we were in Wichita.
I do not remember if my mother had her job before we went to Wichita or not (I think not), but soon she was employed by the Kansas Well Log Bureau and was traveling downtown regularly via bus to work.
The goal was for me to start school at Kellogg School and we were soon at school, talking with the principal. I was a conundrum. You see, I came from a school system that did not have Kindergarten and Wichita schools did have Kindergarten. So, though I would soon be six, it was thought that perhaps I should be in kindergarten, not first grade. I am not sure, but I think Kindergarten at that time was ½ day, which certainly did not work for my mother. So, between that fact and the fact that I was dubbed ‘large’ for my age, it was decided I should begin school in the first-grade classroom of Miss Quick. And I did.
My next ‘major’ trip began a bit after school was out for the year in that first-grade class room. That was the summer of 1949. A couple, who were friends of my mother (and where we had lived while my mother was attending secretarial school in Muskogee) were driving to Florida to visit their son who was in the Air Force. I believe he was stationed at McDill Air Force Base.
My trip began with my mother taking me to the then Wichita Municipal Airport. It was
located where McConnell Air Force Base is now located. I carried a small suitcase and clambered into a DC-3 to begin my trip to Tulsa, the first leg of my adventure to and from Florida. As I was traveling unaccompanied, the stewardess put me in the first row and soon those big engines began to cough and sputter to life. I have a strong memory of the take-off. It was EXCITING!
I arrived in Tulsa and was picked up and driven to Muskogee by the friends of my mother, whom I knew well as we had lived with them previously. Soon, suitcases, food and more were being loaded into the large Nash Rambler for the up-coming trip to Florida. I can only remember a few incidents on that trip. I remember we often drove at night (probably to minimize hotel stays and costs) and I remember both of my adult traveling companions being very good to me and putting up with what was probably an endless stream of my questions. 
One strong memory I have is a stop we made for gas, probably in Georgia. There was an ice cream vendor across the street and I was given a dime to go over and get myself an ice cream cone. Well, in that part of America, a dime got one two-dips, not a single dip. So, I proudly returned with my two dips of ice cream perched on a cone and was chastised for not getting a single dip and the change. Ah well, the ice cream was good and it probably improved the day for my traveling companions as the sugar soon put me to sleep for a long nap.
I remember arriving in Florida and visiting with the son of my traveling companions, though we did not stay very long – as I recall. Soon, the Nash Rambler was headed back towards Oklahoma and I remember several good stories and some fun car games as part of this trip. I do not remember how my trip was concluded, but I presume the friends drove me to Wichita to be reunited with my mother. I do remember the entire trip as being fun and a very positive experience. I am sure it was also positive for my mother not to have daily responsibility for me.
It is interesting that we made that long trip without interstate highways, without seat belts, without air bags, without air conditioning, without a GPS, without a phone, but with people in the car actually paying attention to one another and enjoying the trip.
