My Journey Through Childhood
The
Early Days
To
understand where I am and where I might be going in my life, you must
first
understand where I came from. From my earliest memory, I have been
on
the move. I have always been running, jumping, hopping, talking and
moving.
My summer days were never spent in the house because if I ever
said
I was bored my mom would have put me to work.
I felt
like I lived in the middle of nowhere. We had no neighbor kids to play
with,
no local park, community swimming pool or game room. Instead, we
had
6 siblings, my grandparent’s ranch, the now vacant old golf course with
hundreds
of wooded acres, the creek to swim in and our game room was
nature’s
gigantic offering of trees, deep grass and old animal trails that were
certainly
once used by Indians, pilgrims, cowboys and old mountain men.
We
would go fishing at least once a week. Our walk took us down Soldier
Creek.
We climbed over rocks, swung on grapevines, hunted for gold and
fought
many battles against great warriors. An old stick made a great gun,
sword
and walking cane. In late summer we ate blackberries along the creek
banks
and there were ALWAYS cherry tomatoes, peas, radishes, corn and so much more
hiding in grandpa’s garden.
As
summer rolled into fall, there were berry picking trips for canning day,
woodcutting
at the ranch with the Jardines, cows to milk, eggs to collect and
animals
to butcher for the freezer. Grandpa saw to it we had lamb, beef and
homemade
butter while mom and dad saw to the eggs, rabbit meat, pork
and
whatever animal was hunted for that year,
Winters
were spent listening to mom read late at night by the fire. We
traveled
across the country with Pa and Ma Ingalls; we were educated by
Little
Tree, lived on islands in the mountains and under the sea. All this just in the
stories mom read to us those long cold nights. At night we listened to the mountain
lions and coyotes outside our door and knew we were safe as Dad was always close
by.
When
the rain stopped and spring came, life started again with baby lambs,
calves
and pony rides. The best games were the ones we made up all by our
little
ol’ selves. I remember one day we were playing cowboy and my lasso was an
old yellow rope and my wild mustang was the family pony. I remember the
first time I finally roped that thing around the neck. He was on a full run and
just as I yelled “I got one,” the rope hit the end and off I sailed in the air.
I can still see the look on my brother George’s face. It was a look of “why did
the idiot not let go?” I realized my error and finally let go only after being
drug through
the whole yard and half way through my grandparent’s field.
When
the blue birds stopped flying in my noggin, I could hear George saying
“Why
didn’t you let go?” To which I replied “I did! Just not as soon as I should
have.”
I think I was 10 years old and may be that was my first concussion
but
I will never know because we then had to catch the pony to remove the
lasso.
There
were movie nights at the Up Town Theater in downtown Sonora. We
got
our burgers at the Jimtown Frosty and Fosters Freeze. I remember getting pizza
at the Pick and then Jan Darone would enter my life and pizza was at Mountain
Steamer Pizza which was also the place of my first job.
My
parents enrolled us in 4-H in 1974 and today, some 42 years later, I am
still
enrolled. I raised pigs with people like the Wittmans, Kirkwoods and
Moyles.
The best times were at the Mother Lode Fair showing our rabbits,
pigs
and an occasional lamb. I never won many awards but we had so much
fun.
I still remember the year we hauled the pigs to the fair in the back of a
station
wagon. Yup, that is a story for a different Blog.
I
still remember the year the rodeo came to the fair. I was having a giggling
contest
with Mary Macon (Lopez) late one night and we saw a gigantic bull
running
through the barns. There were cowboys chasing it, trying to rope it
and
I thought heck I have done that before. That is when I realized the bull
had
a lasso around its neck. I walked over and picked up the lasso this time I
was
smart enough to NOT hold onto the rope. I handed it to one of the
cowboys
that was chasing the bull and I said “Good Luck! If he runs let go.”
Looking
back I must say it was peaches. I had the best of everything. Life
was
great. I also realize we had it hard but who didn’t? It was the 1970’s in
Tuolumne
County and unemployment was high and the world was an
interesting
place. But I have a secret. God had blessed me with the best life
EVER!
I was being raised in what I would later realize was the best
community
in the world, I was going to school with people that would
Cute picture! I love this <3 First thing I read this morning, put a smile on my face... :)
ReplyDeleteLove hearing your story Ronnie!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog! Well written and fun!
ReplyDeleteI remember so much of that, even the bull running through the barns. Those were some good times, not to mention some of the best times! 😉
ReplyDeleteFollowing along through my Feedly app. Such great memories. Precious.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great writer! I remember those 4-H and fair days. Back then, I didn't know how great I had it. Much love to you, my friend!!
ReplyDeleteVery good days indeed!
ReplyDeleteSmiling from ear to ear. Thanks for sharing. 😊👏🏻
ReplyDeleteI remember the bull at the fair and showing pigs! Now my daughter is,raising and showing her own pigs!
ReplyDeletelooking forward to following your blog. Good times at the Mother Lode Fair !!!
ReplyDeleteI had the best time in 4H and at the fair. Thanks for sharing your wonderful menories.
ReplyDeleteSuch precious and wonderful memories. Thanks for making me laugh and reflect on my own memories so similar to yours. ❤️
ReplyDeleteGreat story, looking forward to more 💙 Sonora was the best place to grow up!
ReplyDeleteWe had such family memories.. The worm Farm!! Lol
ReplyDelete