Homeward Bound

The California Trip — Part 5

Edna and John Troutman in an undated photo, probably taken sometime in the 1960sEdna and John Troutman in an undated photo, probably taken sometime in the 1960s

I remember nothing about the return trip. We probably took the train directly from San Diego to Harrisburg. It must have taken, what? Three days? Four days, to get back. Don’t know.

When we arrived in Harrisburg, my grandfather John Troutman was waiting for us. He was no longer in the best of health and no longer drove, so he had found someone else to drive him to Harrisburg to pick us up. I don’t remember who that was either. I just remember my grandfather saying he had to scramble at the last minute to find someone.

And that’s all I recall of our return to Pennsylvania.

Two months later, on 28 October, 1965, my grandfather died.

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