I always have and alway swill consider Holtville California as my Hometown. As I grew up there until the fifth grade, surrounded by my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and some that we just called cousin. In September 1954, Myself, Meredith, and Douglas, all started school at Pine Union elementary. Now I am Very sad to say, I am the only one left living of us three. One other Classmate from that class I know has Also Passed, Paul Denton. and I am sure others. But the memories of those three are wonderful, I loved the Halloween Carnivals, Hay Rides, and trips to the desert and Salton Sea, I was looking forward to reliving my youth at 17. Meredith and Wayne were also excited as we had always been close, while living up north I had spent many summers at their house. Now we would be reunited. I was a senior and Meredith should have been but was struggling with school work. Wayne was on the Jr. Varsity Football team. I reported to school and was given my schedule, when the counselor saw that I had had Senior English in Hughson he put me there again, but told me that it was not required in this school to graduate. I tried to get out of it but he said no go ahead and take it. which lead to some good times. Mr. Eikleberry was the teacher, and also assisted the student putting on the Jr & Senior Plays, I got to help him build scenery, and work behind the scenes which i actually prefer to being in the spotlight. Also After my "Checkout" interview at Semester, and I found out all I had to pass for my diploma were my 3 state required classes, I went to Mr Eikleberry, and informed him that since i did not have to have his class, I would park myself in the back and as long as he did not bother me, I would not disrupt his class. This worked, and often i would ask to leave and go to ag shop to work on something which he always allowed. When it came time for finals, he made his request. As he handed me a copy of the Test I said "why do I need that I am going to flunk?", he Replied, i accepted your terms now I have a request. "I would appreciate it if you would look through the test and see if you have absorbed anything the past semester!!" I answered maybe 10 out of 100 and got those ten right lol and asked if I could go to Ag and finish my project. He approved, and after Graduation He was the first teacher I seen downtown, and I walked up and said "Hi Burt!. How is it going!" we visited a little and haven't seen each other since.
After Meredith got put on a 1/2 day schedule when he got caught smoking, he and I would skip a lot of class. and another friend also liked me to skip with him so I missed a lot of school the rest of the year LOL, My sister Pat was an adult and could write excuses for me so that was a plus. Dad worked all day and went to the bar at night so was pretty much out of the loop. Living in My Aunt & Uncles house across the driveway from them was a plus. Many an afternoon found a small group of friends playing pool on their patio, while Pat wrote excuse note signing the appropriate names to them. Jerry, Meredith, Wayne Patton a few times, and a couple of others. We never got caught. My first class was study hall, and in would walk Jerry or Meredith, and tell the librarian the Mr. Hart wanted to see me in the Ag Shop, lol and away we would go to town or even to El Centro 10 miles away. Funny thing is it was never all three of us, it was Me and Meredith or Me and Jerry. But after all that I managed to pass all my state requirements and in June 1966 became a graduate of Holtville High School.
Another Teacher that was one of my favorites at Holtville, was Mr. Hart, the Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. He was really easy to get along with, and all the kids liked him. we usually got away with cheating on our Classroom test too. LOL one afternoon we walked into class and the desk were spread all over the room. He said NO Cheating on this test. Well of course after the test started you could hear desk scooting across the floor. One particular time, was the annual "Farm CO-op" test which was a contest within the FFA. We supposedly did not cheat on that one, and I placed third in our class. Not Bad but not good enough to go to Regional. Well after the test when results were announced, a kid named Steve Merton that had placed 2nd told Mr. Hart " I cheated on this test I copied off Larry Pigg, the first place student. Steve said I would like to see Dickey go to regional with Larry. WOW what a deal. I indeed go to regional and at regional, I placed ahead of Larry, but again placed third in Region so did not advance.
The FFA was in charge of concessions for the school athletic events, and Mr Hart put me in charge of that. We would sell popcorn, and coke and candy, and the money would go to the club. That was great, partly because I got into all the games free. But also a lot of responsibility When we have tournaments I would be tied up for 2 or 4 days. The best game I could remember was when the Harlem Travelers came to town. One of their players came over during the game and said "Give me a bag of popcorn", the kid serving was shocked and didn't know what to d since it was obvious the guy didn't have money on him. He looked at me and I say just give it to him. He walked back on court and stood there eating is pop corn while the game went on around his. At one point the other team had the ball, and he handed the popcorn to the player with the ball and took the ball away from him.lol Since my uncle Cecil was a janitor, I was allowed to go into the locker room to meet some of the players. What a rush...
Well that year came and went and soon There we were at Graduation. What now I had no plans, Vietnam was getting hot, and I really did not want to fight but did not want to go to college either!!!!!!!! I laid around until September and then gained employment with the Holville Alfalfa Mill along side my Dad.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Hughson High School part 3.
I was friends with a few teachers in High School, and as a Cafeteria worker I picked up their trays from the teachers lounge at lunch. While there one day I was visiting with a teacher that was in charge of A group going to San Francisco to see the Giants play at Candlestick Park. It was an Honor group, and my grades did not qualify but they had a lot of extra tickets and he asked if I would like to go. I quickly accepted, and one Saturday we were on our way to enjoy the game. The group was small, and we didn't take a bus we just took two cars. We had a great time and I saw my first Major League Baseball game. Of course the Giants beat the rival Dodgers that day so we were happy. The next year I was lucky enough to be invited again and again the Giants beat the Dodgers.
Speaking of sports, Hughson was not know as a Football powerhouse, in fact we usually won only one game a year. LOL. My Junior year there was a school that had out grown our league but not advanced, Los Banos High, there was a huge goverment dam project that had over filled the school. We were in Tri-Valley league, a small school league. Well Los Banos came to our Homecoming having not lost a game in fact they had not even allowed a score. They had at least 2 team buses, and probably 80 players. compared to our maybe 25-30 players. Some how our team managed to Score the first touchdown that night it was for a short whwile.. Hughson-6, Los Banos-0. But then it broke loose, and the final that night was Hughson-6......Los Banos-88. Yet it was a victory of sorts being the team that ruined their perfect season. My senior year started off different, with a classmate, Bill Mills scoring 5 touchdowns in our first game. I was only there two weeks But I heard that season went well for the Huskies.
I enjoyed going to the football, and basketball games, and would usually go to the away games on the rooters bus. I made every home game for 3 years as a Husky Fan. I didn't follow the baseball team as much. I enjoyed the Pep Rallies, and competing for the "Spirit Jug", Enjoyed the homecoming and the parades. Made me feel as though I was a part of something good.
After 2 weeks of my senior year, Dad, Pat and I headed back to Holtville, my hometown, where I could become a Viking. I was happy to be returning to my roots and cousins and Uncles and Aunts.
Speaking of sports, Hughson was not know as a Football powerhouse, in fact we usually won only one game a year. LOL. My Junior year there was a school that had out grown our league but not advanced, Los Banos High, there was a huge goverment dam project that had over filled the school. We were in Tri-Valley league, a small school league. Well Los Banos came to our Homecoming having not lost a game in fact they had not even allowed a score. They had at least 2 team buses, and probably 80 players. compared to our maybe 25-30 players. Some how our team managed to Score the first touchdown that night it was for a short whwile.. Hughson-6, Los Banos-0. But then it broke loose, and the final that night was Hughson-6......Los Banos-88. Yet it was a victory of sorts being the team that ruined their perfect season. My senior year started off different, with a classmate, Bill Mills scoring 5 touchdowns in our first game. I was only there two weeks But I heard that season went well for the Huskies.
I enjoyed going to the football, and basketball games, and would usually go to the away games on the rooters bus. I made every home game for 3 years as a Husky Fan. I didn't follow the baseball team as much. I enjoyed the Pep Rallies, and competing for the "Spirit Jug", Enjoyed the homecoming and the parades. Made me feel as though I was a part of something good.
After 2 weeks of my senior year, Dad, Pat and I headed back to Holtville, my hometown, where I could become a Viking. I was happy to be returning to my roots and cousins and Uncles and Aunts.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Hughson High School part 2 Future Farmers of America.
One of my greatest memories were the things we did with FFA. While on FFA events, even the bullies would be nicer and treat me better. We were a team and worked together a lot. Everything was about the good of the chapter not so much personal agenda. My first VO-AG teacher was Mr. Searcy, who was also the Dean of Boys. I used him as a counsler many times with my personal Issues. He either went to be only dean of boys or retired and we got a younger gentleman, Ken something, and he was also a Great teacher and a good person.
There were a lot of activities with FFA, and lots of field trips. At least twice we went to San Francisco, (actually Daly City) to the "COW PALACE" for the Grand National Livestock Exposition, Horse Show and Rodeo.. We would split into small groups and look at all the exhibits. Once I got to see Roy Rogers Horse Trigger and Dale Evans Horse Buttermilk. There were all kinds of things there that just amazed a small town boy like me. At a prearranged time we would take our seats for the Rodeo, what a treat that was. The country's top cowboys were there, and always a special group performed for us. One year it was a group of Charro's from Mexico with trick riders and lots of interesting events. Another year it was the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. What a wonderful drill team this was. all in their Red Jackets on black mounts and doing fantastic maneuver's.
The second trip was around Halloween, and boys being boys, our bus wound up getting stopped by the police in a small town because some one was throwing eggs out the window. LOL We were released with a warning and made it home.
Another of our field trips were "Judging Contest" designed to teach how to judge animals, crops, and land, we competed against other schools and each other to be the best. I at times was on the Land Judging team where I did fair, and the Agronomy team. Where i was better. We traveled to places like Modesto Junior College and Cal-State Davis for contest. It was always fun to go to these places, and look around the campus. We were always served lunch. and had a great time.
Another thing we did was to build a float for the Homecoming. Always an interesting time. My freshman year it was the initiation. and one year we were building a huge scoreboard showing us winning (Yeah Right) but one evening when I was not there, someone was smoking and caught the float on fire. We did not have a float that year.
Another event was the chapter fair and equipment show. Farm equipment dealers from all around would bring there tractors, harvesters, and implements to our school to show them and demonstrate what they would do. We would have a Parade of equipment through downtown and most of us would be driving the tractors in the parade. There was a tractor driving contest for us and other chapters I never entered. But it was great to watch. It was a big event for a small school.
One spring the FFA went camping at Yosemitie National Park. We had a great time, Swimming, hiking and just camping. Some of the bullies were there, but again this was not a time for them to be bullies. We cooked together ate together, and had a great time with all.
There were a lot of activities with FFA, and lots of field trips. At least twice we went to San Francisco, (actually Daly City) to the "COW PALACE" for the Grand National Livestock Exposition, Horse Show and Rodeo.. We would split into small groups and look at all the exhibits. Once I got to see Roy Rogers Horse Trigger and Dale Evans Horse Buttermilk. There were all kinds of things there that just amazed a small town boy like me. At a prearranged time we would take our seats for the Rodeo, what a treat that was. The country's top cowboys were there, and always a special group performed for us. One year it was a group of Charro's from Mexico with trick riders and lots of interesting events. Another year it was the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. What a wonderful drill team this was. all in their Red Jackets on black mounts and doing fantastic maneuver's.
The second trip was around Halloween, and boys being boys, our bus wound up getting stopped by the police in a small town because some one was throwing eggs out the window. LOL We were released with a warning and made it home.
Another of our field trips were "Judging Contest" designed to teach how to judge animals, crops, and land, we competed against other schools and each other to be the best. I at times was on the Land Judging team where I did fair, and the Agronomy team. Where i was better. We traveled to places like Modesto Junior College and Cal-State Davis for contest. It was always fun to go to these places, and look around the campus. We were always served lunch. and had a great time.
Another thing we did was to build a float for the Homecoming. Always an interesting time. My freshman year it was the initiation. and one year we were building a huge scoreboard showing us winning (Yeah Right) but one evening when I was not there, someone was smoking and caught the float on fire. We did not have a float that year.
Another event was the chapter fair and equipment show. Farm equipment dealers from all around would bring there tractors, harvesters, and implements to our school to show them and demonstrate what they would do. We would have a Parade of equipment through downtown and most of us would be driving the tractors in the parade. There was a tractor driving contest for us and other chapters I never entered. But it was great to watch. It was a big event for a small school.
One spring the FFA went camping at Yosemitie National Park. We had a great time, Swimming, hiking and just camping. Some of the bullies were there, but again this was not a time for them to be bullies. We cooked together ate together, and had a great time with all.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Hughson High School 1962-1966 part one
Wow I had survived 8th grade and made it to high school. I still wasn't Mr popular, but as long as I kept a low profile I wasn't harassed as much. A lot of the "in-crowd/Bullie" Boys had bought matching brown jackets and called themselves the "Brown Jacket Gang' They liked to push the smaller weaker kids around. Most of them just to fit in and not be pushed around. But for the most part they did not harass me too bad. Some of them were actually friendly when they weren't a group. Also I had a few pretty good friends. I was somewhat of a geek, I worked the Cafeteria to pay for my lunches. And tried to stay pretty much to my self. I often wondered what I would be like if I hadn't left my hometown. But Mom had had her way and I had to live the life I was given.
There were actually only a handful of bad guys so to speak, and the rest were just school mates. I always had plenty of people to talk to, and hang with if I wanted to. I took Vo-Ag and joined the FFA. Was great to be a part of a group. and I wore my jacket proudly. In Vo-Ag and the FFA, even the bullies were less apt to act up during an activity. I remember helping with the FFA Float for the Homecoming Parade, got initiated during that one, made the Freshmen chew a big wad of tobacco and then slapped us on the back to try to make us swallow some. I did swallow some and man it tore up my stomach. Perhaps another reason I avoided Tobacco all my life. This was not something that was aimed at me personally ALL Freshmen present were made to do it. I guess we passed this test. Nowadays it would be considered Harassment or Hazing and all hell would break loose. It was neither, it was a pert of gaining your manhood. Growing up. A ritual of becoming you, and a part of the group. I enjoyed the FFA and took an active role in being a part of something good.
I also attended all the Football games and most of the basketball games. Rode the "Rooters bus" to the away games. In the fall summer and spring I would work on the ranch. Doing whatever chore Lloyd could find for me. Hoeing around the small newly planted trees, Helping put out "Props" when the trees started getting heavy with fruit, stacking the props after the harvest, and grading the fruit as it was picked. This gave me money to go places and buy me some new school clothes in the fall.
When there was nothing to do on the ranch I would walk to a nearby ranch and pick black berries.
Phyllis and Betty would come down quite often and bring my niece and nephew. I got to babysit quite often when they would go to town. one week-end Phyllis and Charles had come to visit, and brought his younger brother Leslie with them. Leslie was a bit younger than I and we usually got along pretty good. Well this weekend we got to fighting and Phyllis threatened to spank us if we didn't quit. Well I told her her that is she touched me I would have her arrested for assault on a minor. MAN that was the wrong thing to say. She took after me and I ran up the ladder to the top of the Garage, pulling the ladder up after me. she started throwing things, mainly pop bottles, and I spent the afternoon on top of that garage dodging pop bottles. She never did make contact, but when Dad got home he did. He wore out my butt and I decided I would not be smart arsed with Phyllis again like that. Today if anybody heard this story they would yell Child Abuse, but I never considered it anything but a good ol fashioned butt whippen, and I had it coming. My Dad NEVER Spanked us kids unless we really deserved it. Mom was a lot quicker to grab a switch or paddle over little things. And her spanking were more severe.
I remember one time in the pink house, Pat and I had went to the market, and Pat had stolen a pack of Kraft Caramels, a whole nickel pack. Well she wasn't going to share so I told on her, even told Mom where she had hid them. She lied and told mom I had stolen them and that's why I knew where they were. We both stuck to our stories, and mom took turns whippen us, this went on for over an hour. Finally Phyllis & Betty grabbed me and said "James go ahead and say you did it,!" I said but I didn't they Said "Yeah but if you say you did it she will just whip you a little more and it will be over". So I took the wrap. She finished and told me I had to take the candy back and apologize and pay for it. I was scared. Phyllis & Betty said they would go to make sure I did it. I said "Thanks a Lot!" But they had a plan, we walked into the market, over to the candy rack, and I acted like I picked up the Caramels, I put the open end in my hand, walked up and gave the clerk my nickel. That was it, they told Mom I had confessed and she was happy. Pat went to her grave never admitting she had stolen that candy!!!
Another time (in Ballico) she was hooking up the gas heater for the winter, and Pat and I were arguing. Well pat started chasing me through the house and as she ran past Mom Mom grabbed her and whipped he with the cloth Covered heater hose, left big whelps on her butt and legs. I do not remember Dad ever leaving marks once the red went away.
I also remember we were doing a project for the FFA, stacking brush for a local farmer, Well some one managed to get hold of a gallon of Red Mountain Wine. We were drinking it and stacking brush, I got pretty lit, and a friend took ,me home, I went to my room to hid from Dad, he never figured out why I was "sick".
Freshman Year passed and It was time for summer again.
There were actually only a handful of bad guys so to speak, and the rest were just school mates. I always had plenty of people to talk to, and hang with if I wanted to. I took Vo-Ag and joined the FFA. Was great to be a part of a group. and I wore my jacket proudly. In Vo-Ag and the FFA, even the bullies were less apt to act up during an activity. I remember helping with the FFA Float for the Homecoming Parade, got initiated during that one, made the Freshmen chew a big wad of tobacco and then slapped us on the back to try to make us swallow some. I did swallow some and man it tore up my stomach. Perhaps another reason I avoided Tobacco all my life. This was not something that was aimed at me personally ALL Freshmen present were made to do it. I guess we passed this test. Nowadays it would be considered Harassment or Hazing and all hell would break loose. It was neither, it was a pert of gaining your manhood. Growing up. A ritual of becoming you, and a part of the group. I enjoyed the FFA and took an active role in being a part of something good.
I also attended all the Football games and most of the basketball games. Rode the "Rooters bus" to the away games. In the fall summer and spring I would work on the ranch. Doing whatever chore Lloyd could find for me. Hoeing around the small newly planted trees, Helping put out "Props" when the trees started getting heavy with fruit, stacking the props after the harvest, and grading the fruit as it was picked. This gave me money to go places and buy me some new school clothes in the fall.
When there was nothing to do on the ranch I would walk to a nearby ranch and pick black berries.
Phyllis and Betty would come down quite often and bring my niece and nephew. I got to babysit quite often when they would go to town. one week-end Phyllis and Charles had come to visit, and brought his younger brother Leslie with them. Leslie was a bit younger than I and we usually got along pretty good. Well this weekend we got to fighting and Phyllis threatened to spank us if we didn't quit. Well I told her her that is she touched me I would have her arrested for assault on a minor. MAN that was the wrong thing to say. She took after me and I ran up the ladder to the top of the Garage, pulling the ladder up after me. she started throwing things, mainly pop bottles, and I spent the afternoon on top of that garage dodging pop bottles. She never did make contact, but when Dad got home he did. He wore out my butt and I decided I would not be smart arsed with Phyllis again like that. Today if anybody heard this story they would yell Child Abuse, but I never considered it anything but a good ol fashioned butt whippen, and I had it coming. My Dad NEVER Spanked us kids unless we really deserved it. Mom was a lot quicker to grab a switch or paddle over little things. And her spanking were more severe.
I remember one time in the pink house, Pat and I had went to the market, and Pat had stolen a pack of Kraft Caramels, a whole nickel pack. Well she wasn't going to share so I told on her, even told Mom where she had hid them. She lied and told mom I had stolen them and that's why I knew where they were. We both stuck to our stories, and mom took turns whippen us, this went on for over an hour. Finally Phyllis & Betty grabbed me and said "James go ahead and say you did it,!" I said but I didn't they Said "Yeah but if you say you did it she will just whip you a little more and it will be over". So I took the wrap. She finished and told me I had to take the candy back and apologize and pay for it. I was scared. Phyllis & Betty said they would go to make sure I did it. I said "Thanks a Lot!" But they had a plan, we walked into the market, over to the candy rack, and I acted like I picked up the Caramels, I put the open end in my hand, walked up and gave the clerk my nickel. That was it, they told Mom I had confessed and she was happy. Pat went to her grave never admitting she had stolen that candy!!!
Another time (in Ballico) she was hooking up the gas heater for the winter, and Pat and I were arguing. Well pat started chasing me through the house and as she ran past Mom Mom grabbed her and whipped he with the cloth Covered heater hose, left big whelps on her butt and legs. I do not remember Dad ever leaving marks once the red went away.
I also remember we were doing a project for the FFA, stacking brush for a local farmer, Well some one managed to get hold of a gallon of Red Mountain Wine. We were drinking it and stacking brush, I got pretty lit, and a friend took ,me home, I went to my room to hid from Dad, he never figured out why I was "sick".
Freshman Year passed and It was time for summer again.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Hughson Ca 8th Grade
As I said Dad Pat and I moved to the "Free Housing" on the Mathews Bros. Ranch. It was a rundown old place but the roof didn't leak. Downstairs was the Kitchen/dining area, and a small add on room that we made Dad's Room. and you had to go outside to go upstairs to what was my bedroom and Pat's bedroom, you had to go through my room to get to Pat's, There was no Bathroom, it had an outhouse! Yes a two-holer outhouse out by the garage. It had no hot water, we had to heat water on the stove.
It had a shower, out in the garage, with a metal tank on top to fill with water so it would heat in the daytime sun. The floor was a pallet, and yes there was some grass growing in their. LOL During the winter, we would use a #3 wash tub in the kitchen to take baths. Also going to the Bathroom could be tricky in the winter. But it was FREE!!.
I as you might expect do not have a lot of fond memories of this place. But it was home and I was forced to make do with the accommodations. I got used to the bathroom and shower part, but hated having to get up in the middle of the night to go out there. We lived there for the next four years.
I remember my our dog having pups, then getting her head stuck in a jar and dying. I raised those pups on small bottles. I hated it when I would feed one in the middle of the night just to have another wake me a few minutes later, and My sister Phyllis was visiting and told me when one wakes up, wake them all up and feed them. This worked great. Also I remember there were Walnut trees lining the drive way. We would gather the nuts as they fell, and bag them for the owners. and he would pay us for them. Then the Shaker would come in and harvest the trees, and any nuts that fell after that were ours. Also we had Lemon, and Orange trees that we got all we wanted of.
I had started the 8th grade in Ceres but soon transferred to Lebright Jr. High in Hughson. Things were fine at first and I made some friends, but just before Christmas, the new Jr. High was ready and we helped move our classrooms to Emilie J. Ross Jr High. Lebright them became a middle school for 5th and 6th Grades. After Christmas Break, I managed to make an enemy of one of the "In Crowd" girls, and all of a sudden my popularity dropped. I still had a few friends, but mostly I was a loner. The bullies were always sure to get on me a lot, and this was to continue for the next 4 years. I never got hurt bad, but was pushed around and humiliated often. Mostly just threats to keep me in my place. I got to where I hated going to school and would miss every chance I got. All I wanted was to return to my hometown where I still had friends and relatives. In June 1962 I graduated to Hughson High School.
Other memories of living here were"
1 "Fog Holidays" yeas the fog would get too thick for the buses to run so we would get Fog Days.
2. Dad using a broom handle to pound on the ceiling to wake Pat and I up.
3. Pat and I deliberately missing the bus not to have to go to school.
4. My first snow storm.
5. Weekends at Turlock Lake
6. Movies at the Starlight Drive In in Keyes.
7 the Births of many of my nieces and nephews.
It had a shower, out in the garage, with a metal tank on top to fill with water so it would heat in the daytime sun. The floor was a pallet, and yes there was some grass growing in their. LOL During the winter, we would use a #3 wash tub in the kitchen to take baths. Also going to the Bathroom could be tricky in the winter. But it was FREE!!.
I as you might expect do not have a lot of fond memories of this place. But it was home and I was forced to make do with the accommodations. I got used to the bathroom and shower part, but hated having to get up in the middle of the night to go out there. We lived there for the next four years.
I remember my our dog having pups, then getting her head stuck in a jar and dying. I raised those pups on small bottles. I hated it when I would feed one in the middle of the night just to have another wake me a few minutes later, and My sister Phyllis was visiting and told me when one wakes up, wake them all up and feed them. This worked great. Also I remember there were Walnut trees lining the drive way. We would gather the nuts as they fell, and bag them for the owners. and he would pay us for them. Then the Shaker would come in and harvest the trees, and any nuts that fell after that were ours. Also we had Lemon, and Orange trees that we got all we wanted of.
I had started the 8th grade in Ceres but soon transferred to Lebright Jr. High in Hughson. Things were fine at first and I made some friends, but just before Christmas, the new Jr. High was ready and we helped move our classrooms to Emilie J. Ross Jr High. Lebright them became a middle school for 5th and 6th Grades. After Christmas Break, I managed to make an enemy of one of the "In Crowd" girls, and all of a sudden my popularity dropped. I still had a few friends, but mostly I was a loner. The bullies were always sure to get on me a lot, and this was to continue for the next 4 years. I never got hurt bad, but was pushed around and humiliated often. Mostly just threats to keep me in my place. I got to where I hated going to school and would miss every chance I got. All I wanted was to return to my hometown where I still had friends and relatives. In June 1962 I graduated to Hughson High School.
Other memories of living here were"
1 "Fog Holidays" yeas the fog would get too thick for the buses to run so we would get Fog Days.
2. Dad using a broom handle to pound on the ceiling to wake Pat and I up.
3. Pat and I deliberately missing the bus not to have to go to school.
4. My first snow storm.
5. Weekends at Turlock Lake
6. Movies at the Starlight Drive In in Keyes.
7 the Births of many of my nieces and nephews.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Ceres California
Just after the sixth grade, in the spring of 1960, We again went on the move. We were basically "Fruit Tramps", the whole family going from ranch to ranch, crop to crop. Working the harvest to make a living. We moved from Ballico to some cabins my Dad's Uncle Homer owned on Highway 99 on the edge of Ceres. Like it the Trailers it took more than one cabin for our family, I am thinking we used three but might have been just 2. I think shortly after we moved dad got a job on a different ranch. But Mom the girls and I would drive around looking for a harvest to join to make money. We picked Apricots, Blackberries, peaches, and Strawberries that year. One day Mom was not with us and Phyllis had the car, we found a Strawberry Harvest and joined in. The girls would pick the berries, and I would carry the trays, to the trailer to be counted. Well we had a problem in that the girls would constantly leave too long of stems on the Berry's, and I would get told and return to tell them. Well at some point Phyllis said that's ok I am tired and getting ready to quit any way. so when I went back with the next load the foreman again started complaining and I said that's ok we are going to quit anyway! and with that were were no longer picking Strawberries. He told Phyllis that he had planned to move us to the Frozen Strawberry crew where stems could be longer, But I had quit for us LMAO.
I loved picking apricots, the trees were smaller in this field and I could really help. We did not stay in the cabins long and found a house to live in.
While we were in Ballico, Betty had gotten married and moved back to the Imperial Valley to El Centro. Her Husband was abusive, and she left him and returned to us, but he came to try to get him back. I remember the confrontation between him and her and Dad. At one point he got into his car and we think he was going to try to pin Dad between the cars. Anyway he finally left without Betty and they got a divorce.
I started 7th Grade at Walter White junior High School, I had never heard of a Junior High, Where I had been it was elementary till 8th grade then high school. I joined the "Safety Patrol" and was guarding crosswalks before and after school. I made a few friends, and even made friends of the prettiest girl in school. Lela Burg!! Long Silky Blond hair, and not a stuck up girl. I talked to her many times on the phone. Had quite a few friends, but wasn't Mr popular either. It was here that a neighbor friend and I tried smoking "grapevine" cause it was supposed to be just like cigarettes! maybe that is why I never took up smoking. I enjoyed may friends there and was hoping we would stay there but we would be moving again the next Fall.
The biggest event to happen in Ceres, was when Mom got mad and moved out. She made it look like an argument gone bad, but we found out later that she had planned it with a male friend and she ran off with him. Dad and Pat went to try to bring her back but he refused.She had left many times that I could remember and I was tired of it when Pat came back I simply told her "I am Glad shes gone, and I hoped she would not return this time" She didn't!!! At some point Dad got a job on a ranch in Hughson Ca. The "Matthews Brothers Ranch" and was offered free housing again. By this time, Betty had met another man, Jake, and moved out with him and Phyllis had hooked up with his Brother Charles. So Dad Pat and I moved to a two story rundown house in the middle of a peach ranch. LOL More on that later.
I loved picking apricots, the trees were smaller in this field and I could really help. We did not stay in the cabins long and found a house to live in.
While we were in Ballico, Betty had gotten married and moved back to the Imperial Valley to El Centro. Her Husband was abusive, and she left him and returned to us, but he came to try to get him back. I remember the confrontation between him and her and Dad. At one point he got into his car and we think he was going to try to pin Dad between the cars. Anyway he finally left without Betty and they got a divorce.
I started 7th Grade at Walter White junior High School, I had never heard of a Junior High, Where I had been it was elementary till 8th grade then high school. I joined the "Safety Patrol" and was guarding crosswalks before and after school. I made a few friends, and even made friends of the prettiest girl in school. Lela Burg!! Long Silky Blond hair, and not a stuck up girl. I talked to her many times on the phone. Had quite a few friends, but wasn't Mr popular either. It was here that a neighbor friend and I tried smoking "grapevine" cause it was supposed to be just like cigarettes! maybe that is why I never took up smoking. I enjoyed may friends there and was hoping we would stay there but we would be moving again the next Fall.
The biggest event to happen in Ceres, was when Mom got mad and moved out. She made it look like an argument gone bad, but we found out later that she had planned it with a male friend and she ran off with him. Dad and Pat went to try to bring her back but he refused.She had left many times that I could remember and I was tired of it when Pat came back I simply told her "I am Glad shes gone, and I hoped she would not return this time" She didn't!!! At some point Dad got a job on a ranch in Hughson Ca. The "Matthews Brothers Ranch" and was offered free housing again. By this time, Betty had met another man, Jake, and moved out with him and Phyllis had hooked up with his Brother Charles. So Dad Pat and I moved to a two story rundown house in the middle of a peach ranch. LOL More on that later.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Ballico CA.
We had moved to Ballico CA, in the summer of 59. Mom had decided that we could make more money there. We moved to a Peach and Grape ranch and Dad got a job operating equipment while Mom and the older girls worked in the harvest. Patsy was old enough to help, and I was kinda there for the ride, although I did assist where I could. Picking peaches they would have certain "drives" in the field, every 8 trees or so. they would go ahead of the pickers and put fruit boxes between the first two trees on the Drive and then skip a spot and put more boxes. This was called a set. each family would pick a set of trees, then move down the drive to the next available set and pick those 4 trees. We all had Numbers to write on the top box of each stack so that the boss could credit us with our boxes, as we were paid by the box. Mom Phyllis and Betty had to carry long ladders to get the fruit in the top of the tree, while Patsy and I would pick the lower fruit. I would also "check" the fruit, I had a small plastic ring and if a peach fell through the ring it was too small and had to be discarded. The fuzz on the peaches was very itchy, and combined with the heat, you would be miserable by quitting time. We did this all harvest. At some point after dad got his operators job we were given a house on the ranch to live in rent free. We stayed in Ballico for my sixth grade year, and I had the most fantastic teacher that year. I do not know why but out of all my Teachers, he is the one I remember most for good things, a couple of others I remember because I really disliked them though. LOL His name was Carl Ditch, Don't know what ever happened to him Hope he had a great career and a great life.
I remember we were raising baby chicks as a class project, and we kept them in a small glass sided box he had helped us make. I was one of the ones that got to take them out for exercise in the school yard, and one day I had them following me around, I was walking backwards, and I tripped over the box breaking 2 sides. He just took it in the room and replaced the sides and said Just be more careful next time. I met my first love there, her name was Margaret, She had long curly hair and was just so beautiful. Of course I was too shy and never did get to let her know how pretty and sweet I Thought she was.
Also i got to go to a week long "Summer Camp", it was great, we went to the coast of California, in the Redwoods. I loved it it was your typical 50's summer camp, cabins, swimming, hikes, crafts, and other activities, like archery. I didn't want it to end.
My Mom and Dad did a lot of drinking at that time, and I never realized they had a problem. Just what they did for relaxation. One of the Breweries at that time had a commercial that in it said "Go Go Go For Falstaff" Well we were playing baseball at school one day when our team had a runner going around the bases for encouragement every one was yelling "Go Go" so I yelled "Go Go Go For Falstaff" and another boy yelled something about "Just Because Your Dad is a Drunk!" Well the fight was on, and it was a pretty good one, I did come out on top, but it would be about the last fight I won for 5 years after that.
Another memory is the folks on the ranch of the Mennonite Religion, they had very strict Rules of course and if they had a car it had to be black, they could not own a television, and so on. We lived next to one of these families on the ranch, and on Saturday, the kids would be gathered around our window watching cartoons with us. I felt sorry for them, but it was my first knowledge of religion other than my own. I in fact had no real religion, I went to church at various churches depending on where I was living and who I was hanging with. From the 5th Grade until I was a Senior in high school I attended no organized church. Some time between 5th and sixth grade, we were on the move again, to some cabins owned by my Dad's Uncle Homer in a town named Ceres CA.
I will never forget walking through the orchards the smell in fall the animals running around and the birds singing.
I remember we were raising baby chicks as a class project, and we kept them in a small glass sided box he had helped us make. I was one of the ones that got to take them out for exercise in the school yard, and one day I had them following me around, I was walking backwards, and I tripped over the box breaking 2 sides. He just took it in the room and replaced the sides and said Just be more careful next time. I met my first love there, her name was Margaret, She had long curly hair and was just so beautiful. Of course I was too shy and never did get to let her know how pretty and sweet I Thought she was.
Also i got to go to a week long "Summer Camp", it was great, we went to the coast of California, in the Redwoods. I loved it it was your typical 50's summer camp, cabins, swimming, hikes, crafts, and other activities, like archery. I didn't want it to end.
My Mom and Dad did a lot of drinking at that time, and I never realized they had a problem. Just what they did for relaxation. One of the Breweries at that time had a commercial that in it said "Go Go Go For Falstaff" Well we were playing baseball at school one day when our team had a runner going around the bases for encouragement every one was yelling "Go Go" so I yelled "Go Go Go For Falstaff" and another boy yelled something about "Just Because Your Dad is a Drunk!" Well the fight was on, and it was a pretty good one, I did come out on top, but it would be about the last fight I won for 5 years after that.
Another memory is the folks on the ranch of the Mennonite Religion, they had very strict Rules of course and if they had a car it had to be black, they could not own a television, and so on. We lived next to one of these families on the ranch, and on Saturday, the kids would be gathered around our window watching cartoons with us. I felt sorry for them, but it was my first knowledge of religion other than my own. I in fact had no real religion, I went to church at various churches depending on where I was living and who I was hanging with. From the 5th Grade until I was a Senior in high school I attended no organized church. Some time between 5th and sixth grade, we were on the move again, to some cabins owned by my Dad's Uncle Homer in a town named Ceres CA.
I will never forget walking through the orchards the smell in fall the animals running around and the birds singing.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Fourth & Fifth grades part 2
Before we moved into the little pink house we lived at 828 Orange in Holtville CA, I remember this well because it was my first introduction to sex. Just suffice to say a friends daughter taught me a couple of things her brother and cousin had been teaching her. LOL I was a great student by the way. and our relationship continued for a few months. Also I caught the neighbors two young sons giving each other oral sex. they were about 5 and 6 years old.
Also at this house I was watching TV and saw a man looking into the window above the television and yelled for my sisters. We all took off down the alley and ran to the bar where my parents were with friends and told them what had happened.
From here we moved to the little pink house and then to the house on ninth street. then the last house we lived in before leaving Holtville to move to Central California. This house was out in the country along highway 80 just a few miles out of Holtville heading to Yuma AZ. it was on a big curve in highway 80, and on the banks of a drainage ditch for the irrigation water from the fields. There was a large lot with out buildings and a nice large house. I enjoyed this house, and got my first puppy there, we had always had dogs but this one was Mine not ours. he had black circles around his eyes and so naturally I named him "Rings". We explored the countryside, and had a great life for a while. Mom and Dad had a lot of friends, and were always having parties. Mom would cook all day making pan after pan of her famous enchiladas, and a large pot of chili beans. Families came over and brought their kids, always a number 3 washtub of Iced down beer and another of Ice cold pop. We would play until the early morning hours when every one had left. On one of these occasion it was early after noon and all the kids my age were exploring the drainage ditch and came across ta fish trap for bait it was full of minnows and young cat and other small fishes, so we took it to the house and got another #3 washtub filled it with water and put them all in it. A few days later a guy came up all mad caused we had stole his trap lol.. but we gave it back and he left.
Another occasion Patsy and I were fighting, and I was chasing her around trying to hit her. Betty and Phyllis were encouraging us to get each other and enjoying the show which they did very often. Well Betty yells at me "Grab the frog gig James" so I did and pushed it between Betty and Phyllis trying to stick Patsy but I actually hit Betty in the head with it. It didn't penetrate very deep but was bleeding a lot. There was a young ,man hitchhiking and he had asked for a drink and watched the entire incident by the way. Well before we could get the bleeding stopped Mom & Dad came home and asked what happened. We weren't about to tell them the truth, and Betty said "I hit my head on a nail in the wall" We looked everywhere for a nail the right height and never found it but that was our story and we stuck to it. As far as I know none of us ever told them the truth about that night.
One day, Mom & Dad found out that a local Watermelon farmer had finished his harvest and was letting every one glean what was left in the field before he disced it under. we went out there and filled the trunk & back seat of our 55 Buick and brought them home. We put a sign along the road "Watermelon 25 cents or 5 for $1" made a lot of sales too. we had them under our old swamp cooler with the cool water dripping over them it was great to split on open and eat it.
This was also where I found out Elmer the skunk had got pneumonia and died. At some point My folks made the decision to move to central California and at first we just drove up there to visit Aunt Essie, but I did not return for about 6 years. Mom Dad Phyllis and Betty went back to the house to get our belongings, and almost left Rings behind. But Phyllis and Betty would not let them. We Moved into Aunt Essies wash house on the farm where her and her husband worked. our furniture was fruit crates, and we looked like a bunch of fruit tramps. Dad got a job operating equipment for the ranch, and Mom and the kids worked the harvest. We were in a small town named Ballico Ca. and I will never forget it. One main building was the down town, as you walked up the steps if you went straight you were in the general store, if you went right you were in the Post Office and if you went left you were in the bar. Oh there were other things there too, tractor shops. but the store was also the gas station. I went to 6th grade here so that is another story.
Also at this house I was watching TV and saw a man looking into the window above the television and yelled for my sisters. We all took off down the alley and ran to the bar where my parents were with friends and told them what had happened.
From here we moved to the little pink house and then to the house on ninth street. then the last house we lived in before leaving Holtville to move to Central California. This house was out in the country along highway 80 just a few miles out of Holtville heading to Yuma AZ. it was on a big curve in highway 80, and on the banks of a drainage ditch for the irrigation water from the fields. There was a large lot with out buildings and a nice large house. I enjoyed this house, and got my first puppy there, we had always had dogs but this one was Mine not ours. he had black circles around his eyes and so naturally I named him "Rings". We explored the countryside, and had a great life for a while. Mom and Dad had a lot of friends, and were always having parties. Mom would cook all day making pan after pan of her famous enchiladas, and a large pot of chili beans. Families came over and brought their kids, always a number 3 washtub of Iced down beer and another of Ice cold pop. We would play until the early morning hours when every one had left. On one of these occasion it was early after noon and all the kids my age were exploring the drainage ditch and came across ta fish trap for bait it was full of minnows and young cat and other small fishes, so we took it to the house and got another #3 washtub filled it with water and put them all in it. A few days later a guy came up all mad caused we had stole his trap lol.. but we gave it back and he left.
Another occasion Patsy and I were fighting, and I was chasing her around trying to hit her. Betty and Phyllis were encouraging us to get each other and enjoying the show which they did very often. Well Betty yells at me "Grab the frog gig James" so I did and pushed it between Betty and Phyllis trying to stick Patsy but I actually hit Betty in the head with it. It didn't penetrate very deep but was bleeding a lot. There was a young ,man hitchhiking and he had asked for a drink and watched the entire incident by the way. Well before we could get the bleeding stopped Mom & Dad came home and asked what happened. We weren't about to tell them the truth, and Betty said "I hit my head on a nail in the wall" We looked everywhere for a nail the right height and never found it but that was our story and we stuck to it. As far as I know none of us ever told them the truth about that night.
One day, Mom & Dad found out that a local Watermelon farmer had finished his harvest and was letting every one glean what was left in the field before he disced it under. we went out there and filled the trunk & back seat of our 55 Buick and brought them home. We put a sign along the road "Watermelon 25 cents or 5 for $1" made a lot of sales too. we had them under our old swamp cooler with the cool water dripping over them it was great to split on open and eat it.
This was also where I found out Elmer the skunk had got pneumonia and died. At some point My folks made the decision to move to central California and at first we just drove up there to visit Aunt Essie, but I did not return for about 6 years. Mom Dad Phyllis and Betty went back to the house to get our belongings, and almost left Rings behind. But Phyllis and Betty would not let them. We Moved into Aunt Essies wash house on the farm where her and her husband worked. our furniture was fruit crates, and we looked like a bunch of fruit tramps. Dad got a job operating equipment for the ranch, and Mom and the kids worked the harvest. We were in a small town named Ballico Ca. and I will never forget it. One main building was the down town, as you walked up the steps if you went straight you were in the general store, if you went right you were in the Post Office and if you went left you were in the bar. Oh there were other things there too, tractor shops. but the store was also the gas station. I went to 6th grade here so that is another story.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Fourth & Fifth Grades Pt.1
Fourth & Fifth grades are a bit of a jumble, I remember moving from the TB San, to a little pink house, it was one of two side by side with a connecting carport. Lucille Bird lived in the other. a few things happened in that house.
1. My Gourd Vine: I got some gourd seeds from a friend and planted them outside the back utility porch door. They sprouted and grew, up the side of the house, over the roof, (about 10 feet of roof), down the other side, across a 3 foot strip, and over the neighbors fence. Longest vine I have ever seen. We kept having to cut them off the door. And my mom met a reporter from the San Diego Union newspaper and she came over and took a picture and published it in the paper. I was famous for a few days!
2. We had a menegerie of pets, dogs cats birds, and always did have. Well a friend of my parents was going on vacation, and asked ifwe would sit their pets. They had a parrot, small dog, and a SKUNK! yes a black & white furry skunk, that had been de-oderized and only had a slight oder when very very close to you. His name was Elmer. He was a hoot and he and I became good friends. One evening, I was walking to the back porch and as I entered the kitchen, i saw the back porch was on fire. I yelled at my sisters, and they started reacting, they told me "get all the animals out", as they were going out to grab the water hose and fight the fire and call the fire department. I grabbed the bird cages and ran out handing them over the fence, to Patsy woh handed them to Ms lucille in her yard, then both dogs, and then started looking for Elmer. I could not find him anywhere. I thought and remembered he liked to hide behind the Kitchen stove so pulled it out and there he was I grabbed him up and ran to Ms. Lucilles. I was lucky because the back porch was a screened porch and the house was not filling up with smoke. The girls had the fire out before the fire department arrived, and everything ended good.
After That we moved to a house on ninth street where I had my first real crush she was a cute little blonde and I liked her very much. Alas it was not to be. nothing spectacular happened there but i did get to help install a septic tank, climbing intpo a deep hole and working with shovel and pick-axe. like a man LMAO.
Oh Yeah something else did happen in that house. As kids we would collect deposit bottles, on weekend drives, we would see a pop bottle and tell Dad or Mom and they would stop so we could grab it to cash in at the store. Well my neighbor had a certian toy set that I wanted bad so I started saving my share of the pop bottles to buy it. I saved and saved untilI had enough bottles and Phyllis took me to Hosies Market and we cashed them in. Then off to the Rexall to buy my toy!!! Well they were sold out, I was dissapointed but picked out a couple of toy cars and had money left. Phyllis had started smoking by this time and begged me to buy her a pack of smokes but I refused telling her it was my money I saved and I was not spending it on cigerettes. LOL
1. My Gourd Vine: I got some gourd seeds from a friend and planted them outside the back utility porch door. They sprouted and grew, up the side of the house, over the roof, (about 10 feet of roof), down the other side, across a 3 foot strip, and over the neighbors fence. Longest vine I have ever seen. We kept having to cut them off the door. And my mom met a reporter from the San Diego Union newspaper and she came over and took a picture and published it in the paper. I was famous for a few days!
2. We had a menegerie of pets, dogs cats birds, and always did have. Well a friend of my parents was going on vacation, and asked ifwe would sit their pets. They had a parrot, small dog, and a SKUNK! yes a black & white furry skunk, that had been de-oderized and only had a slight oder when very very close to you. His name was Elmer. He was a hoot and he and I became good friends. One evening, I was walking to the back porch and as I entered the kitchen, i saw the back porch was on fire. I yelled at my sisters, and they started reacting, they told me "get all the animals out", as they were going out to grab the water hose and fight the fire and call the fire department. I grabbed the bird cages and ran out handing them over the fence, to Patsy woh handed them to Ms lucille in her yard, then both dogs, and then started looking for Elmer. I could not find him anywhere. I thought and remembered he liked to hide behind the Kitchen stove so pulled it out and there he was I grabbed him up and ran to Ms. Lucilles. I was lucky because the back porch was a screened porch and the house was not filling up with smoke. The girls had the fire out before the fire department arrived, and everything ended good.
After That we moved to a house on ninth street where I had my first real crush she was a cute little blonde and I liked her very much. Alas it was not to be. nothing spectacular happened there but i did get to help install a septic tank, climbing intpo a deep hole and working with shovel and pick-axe. like a man LMAO.
Oh Yeah something else did happen in that house. As kids we would collect deposit bottles, on weekend drives, we would see a pop bottle and tell Dad or Mom and they would stop so we could grab it to cash in at the store. Well my neighbor had a certian toy set that I wanted bad so I started saving my share of the pop bottles to buy it. I saved and saved untilI had enough bottles and Phyllis took me to Hosies Market and we cashed them in. Then off to the Rexall to buy my toy!!! Well they were sold out, I was dissapointed but picked out a couple of toy cars and had money left. Phyllis had started smoking by this time and begged me to buy her a pack of smokes but I refused telling her it was my money I saved and I was not spending it on cigerettes. LOL
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Third Grade
Between the 2nd & 3rd grades, Mom had joined Aunt Nig as a cook at the TB Sanatorium, and we were given free housing. It was and old Quonset hut in the base compound as a large family we had the entire hut, many were divided into duplexes. Since it was a former Military installation, all were in neat little rows on each side of a large open area that served for guest parking if some one came to visit.
lines of telephone poles laying on their sides marked the parking. We kids liked to play there and walk along the poles, pushing each other off, and such. It was our playground. One day as we were playing we looked down and there was my first Rattlesnake. I jumped back and to the other side of the pole and ran to get the shovel to kill it. I chopped its head off and was very proud of it although it was very young, maybe 14 inches long. with the base being in the middle of natural desert, Rattle snakes were a way of life, and we saw and killed many more. Outside of the fence was pure desert, with sagebrush and other plants. many made thickets where we could play hide and seek, or where some one had dug pits to get sand for a project we had gullies and sand hills. Our imagination was the limit. We could go up past the hospital to the old hangers and runways and explore. the hangers were our jungle gyms. climbing up into the rafter or what were left of them we never considered it was dangerous. We would race our bikes around the concrete slabs of the tarmac and runways. We could not go near the hospital itself because of the patients but we had our own little world to do as we pleased.
Another benefit of living there was Sunday Drag racing, The "Imperial Valley Timing Association" had turned a runway into the drag strip, and we simply walked out into the desert and around the ticket booth and back into the racing area, there were no grandstands, cars lined up along each side of the runway and tailgated it. umbrellas, lawn chairs and ice chests everywhere. Saw a lot of good racing there. Wish there were something like it here and now.
Saw one of the biggest rattlesnakes I have ever seen there it was killed and hung on a sign at the fire department, it was near if not over 6 foot hanging by its head left a great impression on me.
I had returned to good ol' PU for my third grade, and had to ride the school bus everyday. I remember my Grandpa Rutledge was in California for a visit and had carved me a toy rifle out of a board, I was so proud of the rifle and took it to school to share with everyone on the bus going to school a bigger boy took it and broke it in half, I was devastated, I got of the bus crying and my teacher took it and said I can fix it for you, but I never saw that gun again. After School my sisters found out about it and the kid lived at the housing complex, and Well they took care of him for me LOL. Always there to defend their baby brother.
lines of telephone poles laying on their sides marked the parking. We kids liked to play there and walk along the poles, pushing each other off, and such. It was our playground. One day as we were playing we looked down and there was my first Rattlesnake. I jumped back and to the other side of the pole and ran to get the shovel to kill it. I chopped its head off and was very proud of it although it was very young, maybe 14 inches long. with the base being in the middle of natural desert, Rattle snakes were a way of life, and we saw and killed many more. Outside of the fence was pure desert, with sagebrush and other plants. many made thickets where we could play hide and seek, or where some one had dug pits to get sand for a project we had gullies and sand hills. Our imagination was the limit. We could go up past the hospital to the old hangers and runways and explore. the hangers were our jungle gyms. climbing up into the rafter or what were left of them we never considered it was dangerous. We would race our bikes around the concrete slabs of the tarmac and runways. We could not go near the hospital itself because of the patients but we had our own little world to do as we pleased.
Another benefit of living there was Sunday Drag racing, The "Imperial Valley Timing Association" had turned a runway into the drag strip, and we simply walked out into the desert and around the ticket booth and back into the racing area, there were no grandstands, cars lined up along each side of the runway and tailgated it. umbrellas, lawn chairs and ice chests everywhere. Saw a lot of good racing there. Wish there were something like it here and now.
Saw one of the biggest rattlesnakes I have ever seen there it was killed and hung on a sign at the fire department, it was near if not over 6 foot hanging by its head left a great impression on me.
I had returned to good ol' PU for my third grade, and had to ride the school bus everyday. I remember my Grandpa Rutledge was in California for a visit and had carved me a toy rifle out of a board, I was so proud of the rifle and took it to school to share with everyone on the bus going to school a bigger boy took it and broke it in half, I was devastated, I got of the bus crying and my teacher took it and said I can fix it for you, but I never saw that gun again. After School my sisters found out about it and the kid lived at the housing complex, and Well they took care of him for me LOL. Always there to defend their baby brother.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Following the crops.
At some point during or just after my 1st Grade year, Mom decided we could make a better living being "Fruit Tramps", she talked Dad into quitting hauling hay and following the crops. We had two "trailer Houses", and followed the lettuce from California to Texas I think, I know we wound up at a relatives in Western Oklahoma, where Mom Dad and the older kids were picking Cotton to get the money to get us back to California. I remember living in a trailer park where Patsy got bit by a dog. And I remember seeing what I think was my first rattle snake. I was leaving the cotton field and it was in the row laying across the row,I refused to keep going and a farm hand with a tractor picked me up and took me to the car. Phyllis got tired of pickin' cotton, so she grabbed a green boll and pulled hard, when it released it hit her in the nose giving her a bloody nose, so Mom sent her to the car to watch me.. LOL In the long run, Dad wound up calling his sister to borrow the money to get home. I also remember huge Watermelons on the farm. bigger than I was. And it was the first time I saw a "Fraidy Hole"... Funny but i could not put a time on these events until I started writing this, I know when we returned to California, we set the trailers under a pole barn on Uncle Andrews place and lived there for my 2nd grade year. The girls lived in one trailer and Mom Dad and I stayed in the other.
During my 2nd Grade year I faced the death of a good friend for the first time. Kenneth Waldrop was doing his news paper route when he was hit by a speeding driver and killed. He was my best friend at the time and has never been far from my thoughts. I also remember having my first "girlfriend" in 2nd Grade her name was June, I changed schools in 3rd grade and never knew what happened to her. I changed schools every year after 1st grade until i went to 8th grade and 3 years of high school in one district.
Again the summer brought Swimming and fishing trips, and camping in the Laguna mountains between us and San Diego.
For a fact I cannot remember which summer things happened, but some of my summer memories include
1. Coming back from a fishing trip to the Colorado River we stopped at an irrigation canal and caught over 50 perch.
2, Fishing at Weiss Lake near Brawley and catching perch off the pier, you could watch them in the water and actually see them take the hook. Caught a few Catfish there also. Usually went there with Uncle Leonard and his 14 foot runabout boat and lots of fun. Fishing Swimming and boating.
3. Went to Glencliff Campgrounds for week or two long camping trips, There was a small lake/large pond over the hill that we swam in. But I will cover Glencliff Memories in another Blog...
4. long weekend and week long camping at the Colorado river, near Imperial Dam.
5 Cookouts at "Wienie Roast Hill" out in the desert near the old Navy Base.
These were the same summer memories I had every summer. LOL Life was good.
During my 2nd Grade year I faced the death of a good friend for the first time. Kenneth Waldrop was doing his news paper route when he was hit by a speeding driver and killed. He was my best friend at the time and has never been far from my thoughts. I also remember having my first "girlfriend" in 2nd Grade her name was June, I changed schools in 3rd grade and never knew what happened to her. I changed schools every year after 1st grade until i went to 8th grade and 3 years of high school in one district.
Again the summer brought Swimming and fishing trips, and camping in the Laguna mountains between us and San Diego.
For a fact I cannot remember which summer things happened, but some of my summer memories include
1. Coming back from a fishing trip to the Colorado River we stopped at an irrigation canal and caught over 50 perch.
2, Fishing at Weiss Lake near Brawley and catching perch off the pier, you could watch them in the water and actually see them take the hook. Caught a few Catfish there also. Usually went there with Uncle Leonard and his 14 foot runabout boat and lots of fun. Fishing Swimming and boating.
3. Went to Glencliff Campgrounds for week or two long camping trips, There was a small lake/large pond over the hill that we swam in. But I will cover Glencliff Memories in another Blog...
4. long weekend and week long camping at the Colorado river, near Imperial Dam.
5 Cookouts at "Wienie Roast Hill" out in the desert near the old Navy Base.
These were the same summer memories I had every summer. LOL Life was good.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Still on the Home Place.
Most of my memories on the home place were the same as any young man growing up in the country in California's Imperial Valley. We didn't have really cold winters, and many Christmases were spent in shirtsleeves, something I really miss. My Mom was from Oklahoma, and my Dad was the first of his Texas family born in California, so I guess I was just a southern boy in that strange land called California. I was raised with the same values and traditions that my cousins in Oklahoma and Texas were. Both families had strong southern roots migrating from places like Tennessee, North Carolina, and such through the southern states like Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. My Mom's family did venture to Illinois then back south.
We ran barefoot , and shirtless in the summer, and in our case a large part of the Winter. Although we didn't have many creeks, the valley was crisscrossed with Irrigation canals, and ditches, which gave us plenty of swimmin holes, in fact ours were just outside our door. A large irrigation canal, the Townsend ran from the east to the west from the Highline until it dumped into the Alamo river. which was not much of a river at all LOL, but basically a drainage for the waste irrigation water from the fields. When the farmers were needing water they would request it and the Townsend would run full. at this point it was too swift and deep for the younger kids, but the older one had a blast. That was where the older kids had a rope hanging from a eucalyptus tree. They would swing to the center of the canal and drop into the water. Well I loved doing that also but had to have a bigger kid carry me. I choose Phyllis. And Phyllis got tired of having to take me every time she swung. She decided that it was time I learned to swim, and having been told that if you throw somebody in they will learn to swim or drown but usually learn to swim she threw me in. Well I didn't learn to swim, and one of my older boy cousins jumped n and rescued me from drowning.
When the farmers were not irrigating the canal ran much lower, and the lock in front of the house held back enough to make a neat swimmin hole for the younger kids. With the large eucalyptus trees for shade we had a blast. Also when the field we were in was being irrigated, the small ditch in front of the house was good for the younger kids. We had an old thrashing machine in the area in front of the house that made a great jungle gym, and flatbed trucks and other machinery to play on. We had pigs, and chickens and dogs and cats. Dad and Uncle Andrew hauled hay during the season, each having a flatbed truck and were quite often working on the loaders, trucks or other machinery in front of the house. Andrew got a kick out of grabbing grease and wiping it on me, and teasing me. Well one day they were working near the chicken pen, and I was i guess gathering eggs, I stepped in a pile of crap, and got a great idea. I carefully walked to where Uncle Andrew was and wiped the crap on him, laughing and yelling "Chicken shit, Chicken Shit" He took it quite well and everyone had a good laugh. Revenge had been mine!
I remember Sunday dinners, Mom cooking and baking everything. I remember learning to wring a chickens neck, boil the water and pluck the feathers. I remember Mom humming and singing old gospel while she cooked and did house work. My favorite was "The Old Rugged Cross". She was a typical southern house wife. Great at crafting, sewing, and cooking. These are my fondest memories of my mom. I remember watching Dad and the others killing pigs, and butchering them in the yard. Going fishing to the Colorado river on the Arizona Border. Or to the Salton Sea camping swimming, and fishing. Maybe a camping trip to Glencliff Campground in the Laguna mountains.
Another memory I cannot leave out was starting school at "Good Ole PU", Pine Union elementary school was 1/2 mile down Townsend from my house, We could ride the bus but mostly walked. We didn't do kindergarten, and on a hot September day, Meredith, Douglas and I all entered school together. The only other name I can give you from that class is Paul Denton. Paul was a big boy for his age and was a great friend. Of those four boys I am the only one still alive , Meredith left us in 1972, Douglas in around 1984, and at some point I heard about Paul, he was working at the "Top Hat" bar and was shot by a customer.
Just as school was starting, my sister Patsy and I were fighting around the house and she started chasing me with a butcher knife, I ran out the kitchen door, pulling it closed behind me to slow here down. Well in the process I caught the middle finger on my right hand in the door latch cutting the tip off. Mom came home and we had found the tip and she ran me quickly to the doctor in town. He couldn't save the tip, but bandaged me up, and sent me home. That night we were just sitting down to eat, and I had loaded my plate with mashed taters and gravy, fried chicken green beans (Not canned). and a biscuit when the phone rang. It was the doc, and Mom said "Son don't eat anything we are taking you to the hospital so they can do surgery on your finger"! They took me to the hospital and I had plastic surgery on my finger and spent a day or two. I started learning to work with my left hand as I had a huge bandage and splint on my finger but it healed and does not affect me today.
We ran barefoot , and shirtless in the summer, and in our case a large part of the Winter. Although we didn't have many creeks, the valley was crisscrossed with Irrigation canals, and ditches, which gave us plenty of swimmin holes, in fact ours were just outside our door. A large irrigation canal, the Townsend ran from the east to the west from the Highline until it dumped into the Alamo river. which was not much of a river at all LOL, but basically a drainage for the waste irrigation water from the fields. When the farmers were needing water they would request it and the Townsend would run full. at this point it was too swift and deep for the younger kids, but the older one had a blast. That was where the older kids had a rope hanging from a eucalyptus tree. They would swing to the center of the canal and drop into the water. Well I loved doing that also but had to have a bigger kid carry me. I choose Phyllis. And Phyllis got tired of having to take me every time she swung. She decided that it was time I learned to swim, and having been told that if you throw somebody in they will learn to swim or drown but usually learn to swim she threw me in. Well I didn't learn to swim, and one of my older boy cousins jumped n and rescued me from drowning.
When the farmers were not irrigating the canal ran much lower, and the lock in front of the house held back enough to make a neat swimmin hole for the younger kids. With the large eucalyptus trees for shade we had a blast. Also when the field we were in was being irrigated, the small ditch in front of the house was good for the younger kids. We had an old thrashing machine in the area in front of the house that made a great jungle gym, and flatbed trucks and other machinery to play on. We had pigs, and chickens and dogs and cats. Dad and Uncle Andrew hauled hay during the season, each having a flatbed truck and were quite often working on the loaders, trucks or other machinery in front of the house. Andrew got a kick out of grabbing grease and wiping it on me, and teasing me. Well one day they were working near the chicken pen, and I was i guess gathering eggs, I stepped in a pile of crap, and got a great idea. I carefully walked to where Uncle Andrew was and wiped the crap on him, laughing and yelling "Chicken shit, Chicken Shit" He took it quite well and everyone had a good laugh. Revenge had been mine!
I remember Sunday dinners, Mom cooking and baking everything. I remember learning to wring a chickens neck, boil the water and pluck the feathers. I remember Mom humming and singing old gospel while she cooked and did house work. My favorite was "The Old Rugged Cross". She was a typical southern house wife. Great at crafting, sewing, and cooking. These are my fondest memories of my mom. I remember watching Dad and the others killing pigs, and butchering them in the yard. Going fishing to the Colorado river on the Arizona Border. Or to the Salton Sea camping swimming, and fishing. Maybe a camping trip to Glencliff Campground in the Laguna mountains.
Another memory I cannot leave out was starting school at "Good Ole PU", Pine Union elementary school was 1/2 mile down Townsend from my house, We could ride the bus but mostly walked. We didn't do kindergarten, and on a hot September day, Meredith, Douglas and I all entered school together. The only other name I can give you from that class is Paul Denton. Paul was a big boy for his age and was a great friend. Of those four boys I am the only one still alive , Meredith left us in 1972, Douglas in around 1984, and at some point I heard about Paul, he was working at the "Top Hat" bar and was shot by a customer.
Just as school was starting, my sister Patsy and I were fighting around the house and she started chasing me with a butcher knife, I ran out the kitchen door, pulling it closed behind me to slow here down. Well in the process I caught the middle finger on my right hand in the door latch cutting the tip off. Mom came home and we had found the tip and she ran me quickly to the doctor in town. He couldn't save the tip, but bandaged me up, and sent me home. That night we were just sitting down to eat, and I had loaded my plate with mashed taters and gravy, fried chicken green beans (Not canned). and a biscuit when the phone rang. It was the doc, and Mom said "Son don't eat anything we are taking you to the hospital so they can do surgery on your finger"! They took me to the hospital and I had plastic surgery on my finger and spent a day or two. I started learning to work with my left hand as I had a huge bandage and splint on my finger but it healed and does not affect me today.
Earliest Memories.
We lived in the country 7 miles north of Holtville, California, on land owned by my Uncle Leonard.
There were 160 acres there, divided into 3 fields, the front parcel was 2 40 acre fields that ran along the highway, and had a drive way leading to Leonard and Jessie's down the center. Their homestead was a small parcel of an acre or two in the back field. The house my family lived in was the old family house that my Grandpa and Grandma had lived in. When they moved from Texas, they had a different place near the highline canal, but had bought this 160 acres. The house Had set in the middle of the front field, but was moved with skids and Caterpillar tractors to the southwest corner of the back field. I remember seeing pictures of the process years ago. A lot of the family lived there at the time, Leonard & Jessie were 1/4 mile north of us,and My Aunt Naomi (Nig) and her Husband Jim Rowland, was 1/4 mile west, another 1/4 mile west of her was my Uncle Andrew's Place. Andrew was married to my Aunt Alma, he was my Dad's brother and she was my mom's Sister. Leonard had 6 kids, four older, and two sons Meredith, who was my age, and Wayne just younger. I spent a lot of time at their place, and they at ours. Aunt Nig had 4 older children as well, and also had Doug, My Age, and Keith, a few couple f years younger, near Wayne's age. Again we all played together but I was closer to Meredith and Wayne. At some point, my Aunt Nig got a job as a cook at the old Naval Air Base, that was turned in to a Tuberculosis Hospital, and was given free housing and moved there. Andrew and Alma bought some land on the edge of town, and had their House moved onto it from the corner. Leaving just the two families on the home place.
Part of my memories of that era are stories told by my parents and older sisters. One of Phyllis's favorites is the time she broke here arm and I waited other hand and foot while she was recovering, then Betty got injured, and I would not do anything for her. Also Phyllis likes to tell of the time she was tired of having to take me swinging on the rope over the canal, and threw me in using the swim or drown technique, one of Leonard's older sons rescued me from that on.
Another Memory of mine is learning to ride a bicycle. I was getting ready to turn 5, and the girls were teaching me to ride a bike on my own, also they were tired of hauling me around LOL, They would put me on the bike and get me going and I would crash and refuse to get up. Well summers in Holtville are HOTT, and every time I would refuse to try again they would pour a 2 gallon picture of Ice Water over my head. I finally learned to ride, because I wanted to live LMAO. After learning to ride I was sure I would get my first bike on my 5th birthday. Well that day came, and I waited with eager anticipation for Mom and Dad to come back from town. When they arrived I could not see a bike, so I asked did I get my bike??. Dad look sadly at me and said, "Well we couldn't afford the bike right now so we bought you a cap pistol and tomahawk, with holster" "it is is the back seat!" I was crushed, and slowly went to get my Birthday present from the car, everyone watched and knew I was disappointed. When I opened the back door of the car, there were the gun and tomahawk, but the holster was wrapped around the crossbar of my brand new Schwinn. I was ecstatic, I pulled it from
the car and started riding it around. Dad adjusted the seat and I headed for Meredith's & Wayne's to show it off. Well beside the dirt road there was a cement irrigation ditch and I managed to ride right into it. I got up retrieved the bike and continued on to their house. I rode into their yard and ran into their old blind dog, and they came out all excited for me. Meredith Wayne and I were as close as brothers, since I had no brothers, and I spent many night in their company. Seems like everything we did was done together. even if it was their family going to the lake or Salton Sea, I went along. Leonard and Jessie were like a second Mom and Dad.
There were 160 acres there, divided into 3 fields, the front parcel was 2 40 acre fields that ran along the highway, and had a drive way leading to Leonard and Jessie's down the center. Their homestead was a small parcel of an acre or two in the back field. The house my family lived in was the old family house that my Grandpa and Grandma had lived in. When they moved from Texas, they had a different place near the highline canal, but had bought this 160 acres. The house Had set in the middle of the front field, but was moved with skids and Caterpillar tractors to the southwest corner of the back field. I remember seeing pictures of the process years ago. A lot of the family lived there at the time, Leonard & Jessie were 1/4 mile north of us,and My Aunt Naomi (Nig) and her Husband Jim Rowland, was 1/4 mile west, another 1/4 mile west of her was my Uncle Andrew's Place. Andrew was married to my Aunt Alma, he was my Dad's brother and she was my mom's Sister. Leonard had 6 kids, four older, and two sons Meredith, who was my age, and Wayne just younger. I spent a lot of time at their place, and they at ours. Aunt Nig had 4 older children as well, and also had Doug, My Age, and Keith, a few couple f years younger, near Wayne's age. Again we all played together but I was closer to Meredith and Wayne. At some point, my Aunt Nig got a job as a cook at the old Naval Air Base, that was turned in to a Tuberculosis Hospital, and was given free housing and moved there. Andrew and Alma bought some land on the edge of town, and had their House moved onto it from the corner. Leaving just the two families on the home place.
Part of my memories of that era are stories told by my parents and older sisters. One of Phyllis's favorites is the time she broke here arm and I waited other hand and foot while she was recovering, then Betty got injured, and I would not do anything for her. Also Phyllis likes to tell of the time she was tired of having to take me swinging on the rope over the canal, and threw me in using the swim or drown technique, one of Leonard's older sons rescued me from that on.
Another Memory of mine is learning to ride a bicycle. I was getting ready to turn 5, and the girls were teaching me to ride a bike on my own, also they were tired of hauling me around LOL, They would put me on the bike and get me going and I would crash and refuse to get up. Well summers in Holtville are HOTT, and every time I would refuse to try again they would pour a 2 gallon picture of Ice Water over my head. I finally learned to ride, because I wanted to live LMAO. After learning to ride I was sure I would get my first bike on my 5th birthday. Well that day came, and I waited with eager anticipation for Mom and Dad to come back from town. When they arrived I could not see a bike, so I asked did I get my bike??. Dad look sadly at me and said, "Well we couldn't afford the bike right now so we bought you a cap pistol and tomahawk, with holster" "it is is the back seat!" I was crushed, and slowly went to get my Birthday present from the car, everyone watched and knew I was disappointed. When I opened the back door of the car, there were the gun and tomahawk, but the holster was wrapped around the crossbar of my brand new Schwinn. I was ecstatic, I pulled it from
the car and started riding it around. Dad adjusted the seat and I headed for Meredith's & Wayne's to show it off. Well beside the dirt road there was a cement irrigation ditch and I managed to ride right into it. I got up retrieved the bike and continued on to their house. I rode into their yard and ran into their old blind dog, and they came out all excited for me. Meredith Wayne and I were as close as brothers, since I had no brothers, and I spent many night in their company. Seems like everything we did was done together. even if it was their family going to the lake or Salton Sea, I went along. Leonard and Jessie were like a second Mom and Dad.
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