Thursday, July 31, 2008

swimming in the canal


I mentioned earlier traveling to CA to see my brother and his wife when I was 16. We took a little weekend trip to the Sierra Mountains & Yosemite Natinal Park. Wow! I didn't know you could see so many spectacular waterfalls in one place. Some seemed so high that the water never made it all the way down. It kind of drifted off with the wind.
Another time - I'm not sure where we were at, but I think near Modesto maybe. It was a hot day and Bro said lets go swimming. We drove to this man made looking very straight creek. I jumped in and was shocked at how cold the water was. It was explained to me that this was actually a irrigation canal where snow melt from the mountains flowed through to water crops in the valley below. At that time "the valley" as they called it, produced a very large percentage of our nations fruits and vegetables. We stayed a good while, enjoyed the water, the sun and each other.
I was told that sometimes people would tie a rope onto a car bumper and ski in the canal. I didn't see any of that but I'm sure it would have been a sight.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Minicar

I was 16 and it was summertime. My sis, Pam, and I took a plane to visit my brother and his wife in CA. We stayed about three weeks. We met a lot of people and saw some great sites. I hope to share some of those another time.
When it was time to return home, my brother and his wife, my sister and I all rode in my brother's car. We drove straight through from near Modesto, CA to OKC, OK. Then on down to TX the next day. I think it was something like 28-30 hours to OKC.
The car was a Toyota Corona. It was the smallest car I had ever ridden in. I can't believe we fit 4 people plus all our luggage in the car. There was little room. You got in the car and closed the door. You did not move your legs until you got back out. A couple of times we stopped after riding for hours and my legs had to get the blood moving before I could walk.
The dash had a little bitty blue light. It wasn't noticeable during the day. At night was another matter. It would come on when the compressor for the air conditioner was running. Don't get me wrong because I was extremely grateful for AC especially while crossing the desert. But that light nearly drove me nuts. It was so bright that it didn't help to close your eyes. It came through anyway. I tried to turn my head and then my whole body. That didn't work. Sleep deprivation took over. Irritability set in. One of us finally found some clay or chewing gum to cover the light with. Some times little things can be a big pain. I never saw another light like that again. I'm guessing Toyota had some complaints over that light.
The minicar was dependable, safe and much cheaper travel than airfare. Glad I was through riding though. Whew!

Monday, July 28, 2008

learning to ski with Linda and Dad

My family got invited to go camping and water skiing when I was very young, maybe 3 years old. It was several families that went together. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen another group like it. So many people and they all got along so well. The adults had as much fun as the kids.
It wasn't long before we were shopping for a boat. Most of the families had ski boats with 35 or 40 hp motors. We bought one with 75 hp. Then every body started upgrading to 90 & 100 hp. Later on, dad took it up a notch. He bought a 165 hp inboard-outboard 18 ft Cobalt. That was some boat and we sure put it to use. I have been sidetracked and will tell more about this another time.
Back to my story. I was five years old and decided I was ready to try skiing. Dad found some little kids skis. I think we were at Lake Thunderbird. Dad through the years was a really good teacher. He taught many to ski. He always got rookies in their skies on the shore and went through everything with them before getting into the water.
When it was time Dad got in the boat and Linda helped me get in the water and hold the skies in place. Linda, a beautiful teenager with another family in the group, was very nice and I thought I was pretty special to be helped out by her. She helped me until the boat took off and then I was on my on. She was there for many of the next takeoffs. I thought it was with her help that it worked and the only way I could do it.
Once on my way it was kind of funny to see Dad in the boat. He pulled me at seven mph. The boat looked like it was standing on end. Dad would stand up to see over the bow so he didn't hit anything. I know it probably took forever to get around going that slow. I don't remember ever hearing no when I wanted to ski. Dad was great. Thanks Dad & Linda.
Those years until I was about fifteen years old were so much fun. I loved skiing. Many family and friends joined us through the years. If they didn't know how to ski, they learned. We got away from it for a while after we moved away. Those relationships still exist today with wonderful memories. Even with the miles of separation, most everyone keeps in touch.
I am back to skiing again now and passing it on to the kids. I actually got out of the boat the other day and went for a ski. My son drove the boat. It had been so long that I don't remember when the last time was. Many years.
Skiing, the lake, and all that encompasses is a huge release for me. It is a peaceful getaway early and late each day. I enjoy all the action in between too!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

the go kart

I remember when ...
I was about 8 or 9 years old. We were visiting Uncle Roy and Aunt Myrtie. For some reason, dad, me and Roy went a few miles over to Roy's brothers farm. His name was Ralph. In my wandering around the barn I found an old go kart. It was really a frame and motor missing a fiberglass car body. Story was that a grass fire burnt the body.
Ralph said we could have the kart. Dad loaded it in the trunk somehow. We got it home and dad would go out and work on it at night. Dad liked tinkering with motors. This motor was froze-up. It would not turn over at all.
I don't recall how long, maybe a few weeks later I was laying on the living room floor and watching TV. Mom was there with me and all the sudden a motor started up in the garage. It didn't have the muffler on so it was very loud. I ran to the garage and there stood dad over the kart, tuning the carburetor. I could not believe the thing was running. We brought this thing home covered in rust from end to end.
The next night dad had the kart back together enough to ride. We rolled it out of the garage, fired it up and dad sent me down a dead end street and back. Wow! That was fun! I think he got nervous about the police showing up though because we didn't keep riding. Before long, like the horse, the kart eventually ended up at Uncle Roy and Aunt Myrtie's farm. I could ride it all I wanted there. Only problem was I didn't stay there all the time. I still got a lot of riding time in over the next few years.
What great memories.
Thanks to Dad & Ralph

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Dopey the horse


My dad came home one day with a horse. It was a Shetland pony that he got from a carnival I believe. We kept it in the backyard for a few days. Dad then rented a lot a few blocks away in OKC and kept him there.
We had a great time taking turns riding our pony that we named Dopey. I can't recall how he got his name. He was the most stubborn animal I ever saw. It was always a struggle to get Dopey to obey what we commanded. He did not seem to respond to the whip either.
After a while I guess it got to be too much trouble to care for Dopey in the city. We took him to my aunt and uncles farm. We visited often and rode him there. That is where the photo was taken.
I rode him in the local rodeo parade and grand entry each year for a few years. One year I showed up with little time to ride him before the rodeo. We skipped the parade. He seemed fine before the grand entry, but as soon as we entered the arena that changed. He started bucking and I couldn't get him to stop. He stayed in line, but bucked like crazy. Half way through they stopped to pray and Dopey kept bucking in place. After the prayer people started cheering me on. Still staying in line we eventually left the arena. As soon as we did, Dopey stopped bucking and acted normal. I was worn out from hanging on though.
Great fun and many memories ...

Saturday, July 12, 2008

My earliest driving experience

I remember .....
As a small boy while traveling to see relatives way out in the country, my dad would place me on his lap and let me steer the the car. I couldn't come close to reaching peddles. He would let me steer, but kept a hand close to the wheel in case I needed a little help.
I spent time with my Aunt Myrtie and Uncle Roy on the farm as a child. They had no children, so me and all my cousins took our turn on the farm. I learned a lot there. Uncle Roy bailed a lot of hay each year. Him and other farmers would do it together. I went along and was probably more in the way than anything else. Roy was pretty good about including me though.
I remember being about 10 years old and the hay baler was messing up some of the time. Uncle Roy was always repairing the equipment. This was before the big round bales. We were making the small rectangular bales that you can pickup by hand. They were coming out of the baler standing on end which caused a problem for the loader that picked it up later to be stacked on a truck for hauling to the barn.
Uncle Roy sat me down in his pickup truck. He said, "I want you to drive around this field and knock down these bales that are standing up. Can you do that?" I said I could and was I ever excited. I could sit on the edge of the seat and barely reach the peddles. I did ok and then when we finished he wanted me to follow him home. He was on the tractor and me in the truck. Now I had to actually go down a road, stay out of the ditch and the opposing lane. I don't think I met anyone. We were pretty far off the highway.
We showed up at the house with no accidents and I thought boy I'm somethin now! Uncle Roy never said much more. He expected me to do it and I did. It sure was fun though!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Nicaragua Trip in May 2008

I completed a trip in May 2008 to Leon, Nicaragua. This trip was so good for me on many levels. I experienced the joy of leading many each day to salvation in Jesus Christ. I was thrilled with the experience of seeing new brothers and sisters enter the kingdom.
The trip was a partnership between the evangelist Ronnie Hill & Voice of Hope Ministries. The organization prior to our arrival was excellent. The local pastors, interpretors, drivers, cooks, and others all did such a wonderful job and it allowed us to be the most effective we could. It was fun getting to know the interpretors and quickly developing those friendships.
This trip really exercised my faith. By preaching, teaching, trusting, believing, waiting, loving, and sharing. God's protection , provision, and guidance was felt so strong throughout the week.
Conferences went on, many fiestas were done, preachers and music were supplied to many churches, and the nightly crusade was done. The fiestas consisted of games, a skit, passing out candy and prizes, and prayer. The skit was called the sinbox and is a very simple but effective presentation of the gospel.
I had such a great time sharing that I am now going to the Sturgis Bike Rally to do it some more. This is again part of Ronnie Hill's evangelism using our three minute story. I look forward to this with great anticipation.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Paint Day

If memory serves correctly, I remember this one time .....

Boarding a bus one day with my dad in OKC, OK. We road down to Walters, OK where my dad's parents lived. The bus ride was great fun and an adventure for me. Mom and my sisters came later in the car so that after the work and visiting took place, we could all ride home together.
I remember those present being dad and myself, uncle Roy and aunt Myrtie, grandad Smith and grandma Smith.
We were at my grandparents to paint their house exterior. This included the wood roof which was extremely steep. The house exterior was to be white and the roof was to be red.
Once we arrived I began playing. Cars in the dirt, kick the can, terrorizing the chickens, etc. While living in town, grandma still had chickens in a penned area behind her house. Behind the pen were railroad tracks and I had very strict orders to stay away from those tracks.
I had my baseball bat and ball with me. This was a small toy bat about 18 inches long and made of oak I think. I still have this bat and it has a few drops of the red roof paint on it to this day.
A couple of times during the day the men would stop work and we would play ball in the front yard. I was maybe four years old and not good at hitting yet. They were patient and pitched to me at a very short distance. Once the ball was hit, I would run the bases. This is my oldest memory of playing baseball.
Late during the afternoon, there was a bit of an accident. Fortunately no serious long-lasting effects. The front gable was very tall and the ladders could not reach. Uncle Roy tied two ladders together and sent my dad up with a bucket of paint and a brush. I was just inside the front screen door when I heard aunt Myrtie scream. I looked out and the ladders were falling. Then down came dad landing on the sidewalk below. He hopped up but his hip was hurting him pretty bad. Next thing I remember is aunt Myrtie giving uncle Roy an earful of what-for. She let him have it pretty good. This was very interesting for a small boy like me. Adults getting worked over instead of kids. Huh!
During the course of painting the roof they had to be careful. It was so steep that a rope was tied to a car bumper, thrown over the roof, and tied around the painter's waist so he could pendulum side to side while painting. About 40 years later I heard Paul Harvey (the radio personality) telling a very similar story. His finished very differently, in that while the man painted, his wife came out to go shopping. She got into the car and drove off. After dragging him over the roof's crown, he hit the ground pretty hard, and then was dragged two blocks before someone shut her down. I think he lived.