He doesn't have a name - we just call him Monkey - come to think of it I suppose that is his name by default. Monkey has traveled with us since we started fulltiming in September 1999 and has been to most of the states, through much of Canada and into Mexico. During travels he sit on the sofa, but once we park he commands a prime viewing area by sitting on the steering wheel and looking out the motorhome's large windshield. I will venture to guess his view of American scenery is akin to watching an IMAX movie.

How did Monkey get this special honor? Many years ago before I grew up and left home my mother was making crafts and her specialty was monkeys made from men's work socks. They were gray socks with a red toe and heel and she decorated each monkey with different colored hair and many sported a knitted vest.

Each of her children and grandchildren received a monkey and her neighborhood children did too. She continued making monkeys and took them to church and gave them to children. Most everyone who knew my mother had one of her unique monkeys.

When we sold our house and most everything we owned I brought Monkey along and he has traveled with us since. My mother was having trouble finding those old fashioned work socks and in an old general store we bought several pairs and sent them to her, but her advancing age and failing eyesight prevented her from making more monkeys.

My mother has since gone to Heaven and every time I look at Monkey and he looks at me, I fondly remember the love of my mother. A part of her still travels with us.