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.