My elementary school would have a graduation party for all 6th graders…An all paid trip to Catalina Island. Yes, from AZ to Cali by plane and then to Catalina by boat. And I got to go!

I got lucky, my mother never paid for field trips and so I only went to the free ones but since this one was free all I had to provide was a sleeping bag and my clothes. Mom also gave me a disposable camera and 20 bucks so I got to take plenty of pictures.

This is one of the memorable times in my life. I’m the only one in the family who got to go since my graduating class was the last to do the all paid trip and the following year after that it was cancelled. I remember it like it was yesterday and have always wanted to go back for a visit. I’ve always wanted to send my children there and hope to one day make a family trip there.