"Dotty, wake up," Mama said. "We're almost ready."

It was still night, darkness surrounded us. I was a born slow poke and usually I was in no hurry first thing in the morning, but today was different. This morning I got ready to go as fast as I could move because we were going to the mountains for an exciting morning picnic. Mama and Daddy put the necessary pans, dishes and food in the trunk and my sister, Lois, my Mother and Dad and I climbed into our faithful car, old Betsy to drive to the mountains above the little town of Beulah.

The rhythm of the car and the darkness of the early morning lulled me and I leaned my pillow against the side of the car and dreamed of pine trees and breakfast. When I opened my eyes at last the morning sun was peeking through the trees and we were in the mountains above Pueblo.

In that day the roads were narrow and graveled. If you met another car on the way one car had to pull over to the side and let the other one go by. Old Betsy climbed up the mountain gravel roadway. Over the side was a sheer, scary ravine. Tall mountain trees stood beside the narrow road and helped to comfort me. I felt that they were our protection from falling down that steep mountainside.

Finally that steep road leveled off and in a few minutes we came to a wide spot beside the road.

"This looks like a good spot," Mama said and Daddy agreed. An open space was waiting for us to pull in. We climbed eagerly out of the car. Cars didn't travel as fast in that day and it had been a long journey from La Junta to the mountains above Beulah.

The first thing we had to do was find some wood so Lois and I scouted around for small branches and pinecones. We found a little mountain creek and picked up the precious fuel for our breakfast. While we were exploring Daddy took the shovel from the trunk of the car and dug a hole. He surrounded it with rocks. We came back from our search with arms full of branches and fragrant smelling pinecones, hungry and excited.

Daddy started the fire and soon smoke rose through the trees, filling the air with the smell of cedar and pines.

There was no beef bacon in that long ago day, the only bacon was pork bacon and because we were Adventists we didn't eat pork, so our substitute for bacon was chipped beef. Mama cooked the chipped beef and toasted bread over the low fire. It was a simple breakfast but delicious. We laughed as we ate. No food ever tasted as good as that.

After breakfast our whole family walked down to the little creek we had discovered. Taking off our shoes we waded but only for a few minutes because the water was icy. Soon it was time to go home. What a wonderful morning it had been, one I never forgot.

There was little money in that day but if I could go back to my childhood and choose between a rich family that could have done anything in the world or a family that had such pleasures as a simple picnic breakfast and a morning of wading in a frosty mountain stream there is no doubt in my mind which I would choose. My parents gave me a wonderful memory that money couldn't buy. It still lives in my little girl memories.