These are the stories, images and memories of my childhood and adult life and the stories of my parents and antecedents as they were told to me and as I remember them. These stories are included here for my descendants to keep the family memories alive and to remember that they come from a strong and varied heritage. Judith Cottingham Perkins was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. After 2 years of college she worked in retail until her marriage. After her three sons were born, and the family moved to Tacoma, Washington, she went to work with her husband in the insurance industry until their retirement in 2000. At that time they bought a motorhome and started traveling around the United States. She and her husband have the distinction of having traveled in all the lower 48 states. They now spend their summers at their home in Tacoma and winters at their home in Yuma, Arizona.