The Old Volkswagon Bus

Early one morning before the dawn
Mom, Dad, my big brother Harry, Princess our collie, and I
piled into the old Volkswagen bus.

There is a special type of anticipation associated with
getting up early in the morning to be off on adventures.

Mother would softly nudge me from my land of dreams.
"George honey it's time to go" The lights still off in my
room I would open my eyes to the silhouette of an Angel
as the light from the hallway formed the outline of my
mother as she caressed my cheek.

The energy of this long planned quest would begin
to swell through my whole being as the haze of
sleep melted away.

In one effortless draft Dad would have me and
my blanket in his arms, through the hallway, family
room, and out the front door. Dad had pulled the
"V Dubb Bus" on to the front lawn the night before
for easy packing.

With one broad step Dad had me from the front
door stoop and through the side sliding door of
the V Dubb. Mom had prepared a heavy quilt for
Harry and I to bury ourselves into for comfort
against the early morning nip.

Through out life I will remember certain smells
partially for aroma itself but mostly for what that
perfume represented. The old V Dubb's had what was
called "instant heat". The moment Dad started up
the bus that morning he pulled the instant heat
knob. Within moments the bus filled with a musky
smell that will always represent warmth and adventure.

With one call from Dad, "Princess" a large fun loving
collie vaulted from the dew covered grass of our front
lawn and onto the lap of my father sitting at the helm.

The doors were shut. Mom would look back from her
co-pilot's station looking at her two bundled up little
eskimos and say, "we're off".

Princess would let out two playful yips and lick dads face.
Then down the road would rumble our family voyage to endless
possibilities.

Within minutes the haze of my premature awakening
would fade over, my excitement would melt back to where
it was stored for safe keeping.

The vibration of that old bus, bouquet of instant heat, and
heavy old quilt alluringly  temped me back to my world of dreams.