One of my most Beautiful Memories

When I was 3, my mother taught me to read. By 5 I was reading chapter books (Hellen Keller, Into the Light was my very first, and I was so proud to read it). Around the same time I began reading the covers of various magazines and newspapers in the checkout line at the grocery store. One such heading, I swear, said "Pot of Gold Found at End of Rainbow." It had a picture of a woman and a pot and a rainbow. (It was all in black and white, and the cover mentioned something about Moses and Aliens, but this did not matter to me.)

This was exciting news. I was a big fan of rainbows, and a big fan of get-rich-quick schemes. I kept telling my parents, "We just have to find the end of the rainbow!" One afternoon when I was five or six my Dad packed my younger brother, R, and I into the car and took us to find the end of the rainbow. He drove down the end of the street, and asked, "Where now?" We both pointed east and shouted exuberantly, confident of our impending wealth. He drove down Old Olga road, and the rainbow looked like it was just a mile down the street. At each stop sign he'd grin and ask which direction next. We bounced and cheered as we continued down the road and onto the intersection.

I couldn't believe my luck: my father was finally taking my advice. And it was about time too! I had lots of good ideas! ;)

We drove further, and were slightly perplexed as the end of the rainbow seemed to always be about the same distance away. Finally we instructed Dad off of the main highway and onto a side road. The rainbow's end seemed just around the bend. We turned corner after corner, and drove and drove until we finally hit a gate and a "no trespassing" sign.

I informed Dad that the owner would not mind if we continued onto his property, and would understand completely when we generously compensated him for the trouble... Alas, Dad disagreed, and we drove home.

I felt somewhat cheated--maybe the guy was hoarding the end of the rainbow for himself! But I also analyzed the fact that, no matter how close it seemed, when we got to where we thought it should be, it wasn't there anymore. Maybe there was something to Dad's explanation of droplets and light. What a boring world!

To this day, my Dad's simple act of hauling his two little kids, ages 3 and 5, into the car and taking us for a half-hour ride is, to me, one of the most beautiful moments of my life, and definitely one of my most wonderful memories.