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As a kid, I tried to convince Mom and Dad that my frequent requests to visit the mall were educational.

But lessons in the value of the American dollar, conversion of European sizes to American ones or multicultural menu offerings at the food court didn’t impress them.

Too bad I didn’t grow up in Merced.

If I had, there would have been one week where I could have really participated in something academic at the mall – the Merced County Writing Festival.

There's no such thing as a bum car show, I believe, and Saturday's Springtime Reunion certainly was a fun event. Planes and Plymouths mixed it up on the grounds of the Castle Air Museum; there were 165 special interest vehicles on display for the sizable crowd strolling the grounds.

While all of the cars and trucks displayed are winners, a few stood out for me. Speaking of Plymouths, my personal "best of show" would have to go to a mostly stock 1955 Plymouth two-door hardtop owned by Don and Elaine Harmon of Modesto. The car was painted a brilliant metallic-pearlescent orange color with cream accents. It had a modern V-8 engine and was just a killer package.