March 2004                                                    The Megaphone                                                    Page 4

Goin' Places

by Howard O. Havens

  I love to hear about traveling around the world -- it's fun. I, Howard O. Havens, started out when I was 17 years old and that was in 1931. 

  I left Elwood the morning of May 30 and hitchhiked through 22 states. I hitched a ride that went through Indianapolis just as the 500 race started. Later I hitched a ride to St. Louis and helped the guy unload his truck. 

  I did not know where to go so, I went on to Nebraska and got a job in the wheat fields, living with a farmer for 2 weeks while working there. From there I went to Memphis, Tennessee and stayed there for 3 months. I stayed with my Aunt Ocle and Uncle Roy. My cousin Richard (my age) had a ball. We got a job on the Island Queen Excursion Boat and worked our way to New
Orleans for the Mardi Gras before going back to Memphis (fun FUN). Then I hiked back to Elwood and finished high school.

  By 1974 I lived in Orland, Florida. I had a good job and got to travel a lot. My wife and I got to go to England for one month. My stepdaughter and her husband were stationed there. We got to see the Queen's birthday parade with the most beautiful horses I ever seen. I got to the tower of London, Trafalgar Square, took a 4 hour train ride to the southwest of England, went to the old castle where the original Magna Carta for the England settlement was located. It was a wonderful place.

  I could go on and on but I am getting tired. I'm just getting over pneumonia and I know you are
tired of reading this. So goodbye for now.

Hugs & Kisses,

Howard O. Havens
Orlando. Fl.