A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
I remember one trip to visit Ivan and Dora when they lived in Vista, CA. This trip took place sometime around 1985. DiVoran and I started this trip by flying from Orlando, FL to San Diego, CA. After we picked up our rental car, we met with our high school friends, Jim and Charlene, who had moved to San Diego from Flagstaff, AZ. We had a wonderful visit with them, remembering fun high school times and other times we had experienced with them in days gone by. Then they took us to their favorite Mexican food restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious meal and more memories.
After dinner, we said our goodbyes, and drove about 50 miles north to visit DiVoran’s brother, David, and his wife, Susan, in Vista, CA. David was in the middle of restoring an off-road vehicle project, and enlisted me as his helper and go-fer. DiVoran and Susan spent most of their time discussing children and grandchildren. The two ladies conspired together to cook a wonderful meal that everyone enjoyed. After an evening of more reminiscing, we finally called an end to the fun. After that wonderful visit they put us up for the night at their lovely home.
That year Ivan and Dora had decided to spend some time fishing at the Salton Sea. So, the next day we drove east from Vista thru Escondido, Ramona, and Santa Ysabel (elevation: ~5000’), and then back down and thru the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, to somewhere on the west side of the Salton Sea (elevation: -226’). I ask Ivan why he didn’t stay at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area where they had camping facilities (located on the northeast side of the lake), and he said it was too expensive and the fishing wasn’t any better in that part of the lake.
They had their 30 foot Silver Streak travel trailer setup near the water’s edge with nothing around them but a few other campers. I never could figure out what had attracted them to this desert area, where there was nothing around them but a few scrub bushes and tumble weeds for as far as the eye could see.
Photo: https://saltonsea.com/events/seafest-october-21-2017-7-am-to-7-pm-salton-sea-state-recreation-area/
I don’t remember much about that visit, but somehow Ivan had heard that the Mozambique Tilapia in the Salton Sea were plentiful that year, and he was determined to catch his share of them. I don’t know how good the fishing had been for him before we got there, but that first night we didn’t have fresh fish for dinner. DiVoran remembers that Dora had apologized for having to serve us canned salmon patties for dinner.
The only thing DiVoran remembers about that trip is that Dora had learned to paint there from a lady who lived there at the lake, and that she and Dora spent much of their time painting. This activity ended up creating a new and very special life-long bond between DiVoran and her mother.
Note: For an interesting read, check out Wikipedia for the details of how the Salton Sea was formed over millions of years, from a natural Salt Sink to a thriving 343 sq. mi. size lake, and how it has now been transformed to its present day ‘dead sea’ condition by mankind over the years.
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 63 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 