I greatly enjoyed the look into the author's family and childhood. The respect, the simple acceptance and the intelligence of the family was clear. I wish more of current families, including my own, modeled the Ripley family values.

The author with her flowing of simple words takes you through a simpler time when things were just a little bit slower and in my opinion a little bit better. She shows you the strength of the working class and the bond of a family. Living on Route 66, she brings the old road back to life in her stories and in the readers mind, if the reader is old enough, and this reader was. I loved the stories and found myself recalling similar times in my own life......Thank You Ms. Ripley

Born in Pontiac, I lived in Cabery, grew up in Kankakee, but spent every weekend at the family farm in Campus, IL and at the Hamilton Elevator (also family). Your story brought back so many memories that I thought I was reading my own story. Thank you for sharing yours.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading about the Ripley family! I am also happy to report that such families and communities still exist today, many still on Rt. 66. Thank you and Ray for sharing your wonderful story.

What a great book. I can picture everything she has talked about. I know the area she talks about and can picture life back then. Great read. Thanks for sharing. Others need to read this book as well.