This pictures tells you a lot about where I come from:
That’s me with the Smokey Bear. The Forest Ranger is my Dad. The place is somewhere in New Mexico. I have no memories of it. We also lived at the Coyote Ranger Station in New Mexico and then in the Ranger Station at Payson, Arizona. We lived in government owned houses. I remember the houses in Coyote and Payson had the exact same floor plan. The houses were located right on the property of the office and warehouse. So we grew up very familiar with Forest Service trucks.
My older brother and I, who was about 5 at the time, used to strut around the yard and warehouse kind of keeping an eye on things and asking the workers what they were doing. I guess that we figured that since Dad was the Ranger, well, that made us second and third in charge. A National Guard officer showed up one day to talk to Dad who wasn’t there. While waiting he was joshing brother Bob and I a little about what he was planning on doing. We puffed up and told him that he better check with Dad before he started.
We didn’t get our own house until Dad got promoted into a Forest Supervisor’s office in Price, Utah. We stayed there for five years and then we moved to Eagar, Arizona.
Dad did various things for the Forest Service but everybody fights fires as their backup job. Sometimes during really dry summers he would be gone for weeks at a time helping fight huge fires in Montana, Idaho, and who knows where. One day he would show up exhausted. We got real close to Mom. We played games and drank pop and worried about and missed Dad.
I was a Forest Service kid, as were my brother and sister. My Mom was a Forest Service wife. It was kind of like being in the army I think. It was very close knit. The employees and their families socialized quite a bit. Wherever we moved we already knew somebody. My Dad who has been retired over 25 years still attends a reunion campout in Quemado Lake, New Mexico with his former coworkers and their wives. Mom has been gone for some years now but when she was still around she looked forward eagerly to the reunions.
So, we were always on the outside of wherever we lived. I mean the residents were very welcoming and we participated in whatever the school and the community had to offer but it wasn’t like I ever expected to stay anywhere. People will tell you that “the kids will be fine” about a move and that is true but I can tell you that it is gut wrenching to say goodbye to your friends and move hundreds of miles away and often never. I think that an entire Boomer generation went through the same thing and that’s why many people refused to move so much when they had kids. Its too hard on the kids I think. I’ve been there.
During my sophomore year in high school we moved from Springerville to Albuquerque. Talk about night and day. From very conservative, close knit, ranching and logging community in the White Mountains of Arizona to an ultra liberal city at the tail end of the 1960’s. Talk about culture shock, especially for the kids. It took about a year for us to find a social group to fit into. It all worked out for the best though. I got along with my parents very well and stayed at home while I went to college except when I worked as a summer roustabout in the oilfields of West Texas.
So, that’s where I came from!
I am participating in a new meme sponsored by the “Real Housewives of Oklahoma” aka “RHOK.” They are the the some of the smartest and talented bloggers in Oklahoma. One in particular, Miss Priss, was recently voted, “Hottest Mommyblogger” in Oklahoma. So go check them out.
The theme of the meme this week is “Where Do I Come From”
There was no vote you silly goose! Just making stuff up again.
I loved your story and I appreciate you sharing it with the Housewives.
~Mrs. Priss, a.k.a. Baloney
B, there you go again. If you will remember right when you entered the contest all the other contestants dropped out.
Wow–you have a very interesting upbringing! I think it also explains the love you have for the outdoors and geocaching? (did I spell that right)?
“Somewhere in New Mexico”? Hmpfh. I’ve been to that ranger station and by it many times. Take the Pecos exit off I-25, 20 some miles east of Santa Fe. Drive north past the Pecos pueblo and mission historical monument, maybe five miles, also past Greer Garson’s lightning ranch, and on the south edge of the village of Pecos is this great shaded ranger station. We’d stop there for maps and stuff when we were headed up into the Pecos wilderness to camp, 20+ some years ago. you go to the end of the road, 20 miles up to the headwaters of the Pecos and camp at above 9,000 feet at Jacks Creek, the Pecos wilderness trail head. Was also there as a teenager in the late 50s, camping with friends at Holy Ghost canyon. I want my ashes scattered in the Pecos high country. Thanks for this post.
And Alan, it ain’t “boring personal history.” Every family has stories that need to be told, and put in print like this, or they’re gone forever.
And the headline haunts me, “Where do I come from?” We too often forget, or don’t even ask. Thanks, again.
Wow! That definitely gives me a new respect for Forest Rangers and their families. Thank you for playing along this week and for the wonderful compliments! BTW, I did go to Forestry Camp in SE Oklahoma my Junior and Senior year in HS. Yep, 72 guys and 8 girls the first year and 64 guys and 6 girls the second- It was fun! ♥Mrs. Hart♥
What a fantastic childhood! I love that first picture of you and your Dad.
What an interesting childhood you had and that’s such a cute picture of you, your Dad and Smokey.
I really hear you about moving around, my Dad was in the RAF and we were always on the move!
Sunny 🙂
It is great to know you better, Yogi. To me, that sounds wonderful childhood.
Yogi, this was great! It’s fun learning new things about my friends. I had no idea where you came from.
And, that first picture is the SWEETEST picture!!
I’m so glad you are manly enough to participate in TheRHOK’s weekly MckLinky! =)
A great look back, Yogi. I enjoyed it very much. A belated 55th birthday, too! I liked the photos of your hike with Sweetie.
Wow! That’s a great story, especially like your description of the Forest Ranger family. It’s great paired with the top picture.
Happy WW!
That was very interesting. I imagine that moving around a lot brought your family closer together. It also explains your focus on your family and your love of trampling around it the woods looking for geocaches. Thanks for sharing.
I think you were lucky moving all over the place seeing and learning new stuff. I was raised in the same boring house until I went into the Navy. I even wished my mom and dad would get a divorce so I could move somewhere else. I guess that is why we love to travel on vacations. Don’t like being home all the time.
The Pecos wilderness area is really beautiful. We’ve camped there a few times.
Glad you gave us a look into your background.
Interesting! I like the first picture (even if you have no memory of it). Your father looks very caring… I wonder what he is showing you!
I can imagine the Forest Service is a tight-knit community as you explained, much like the police, the army etc.
I found your blog from the Housewives. . .what a cool story of where you come from. Thanks for sharing it!
An old energy person myself (I got out because my hubby is in it too and, ya know, the economy was kinda scary there for a bit!), I am looking forward to checking out your site more!
t was preeti good site then other when i visited last month
and got good information about work from home
work from home
I enjoyed your story and the story of hard-work and family and waiting–and not remembering and remembering. All good. Thanks.