Growing up Country

Write about some memorable childhood experience.

Everyday was an adventure when I was a kid. An only child, I spent lots of time entertaining myself while my folks were busy. We lived on a ranch and Dad worked for a rancher along with taking care of our place. Mom taught at a country school, but was home evenings and all summer.

When Dad was working at home, I followed him around whenever I could. Guess I was the son Dad never had. I drove the tractor while he pitched hay off for our cows. Not that I did much more than steer it. When he was ready to stop, I had to grip the steering wheel with both hands and push the clutch down with both feet.

Sometimes we fed the cows range cake and Dad let me steer the pickup while he strung the cake out of the back of the pickup. I had a bit of a problem stopping too fast and making Dad fall.

Most of the time I spent riding my pony and pretending. Chip and I could be anything and go anywhere. I rode bareback all the time and got bucked off quite often. But that was part of the fun of it all back then. With no one to play with I had to make my own fun. I played rodeo, cowboys and Indians, robbers, you name it.