I have had a wonderful life. I was born into a wonderful, loving family, who showered me with just about everything a little girl would want to have. I was cute - and I knew it - and apparently I showed it. Of course, I was spoiled and then I had to eat "humble pie" when each of the other children came into the family. I found out that I was not the only "cute" one in the bunch. Each added their "cuteness" and have now added more as they have brought others into the family. These nieces and nephews of mine blitz my "cuteness" all to holler - but they need to remember - I WAS THE FIRST TO BE CUTE!
I was reflecting on things I have been privileged to do in my life and the people who have helped shape my life into what it is today. I am so blessed with such good friends. I have a whole town full of friends. You know - I could drive down each street in Snowflake and can point out where all of my friends live. I have been blessed to have had the privilege of growing up in a town of wonderful people.
I remember walking to school - usually with my cousins Mitzi and Monty - and having a good time doing it. We would walk by the old Smith's Store where Annie Frost would smile at us as we would walk by - She was a great person - you could count on getting a smile and a laugh out of her every time you went to the store. The store was sold and was called "Nick's Market" for a while and Annie kept working - then the Adams' changed the name to "Pioneer Market" and Annie transitioned into that. It was sad when we lost her smiling face.
We would walk around the old Main Street Church. I remember my cousins getting skates - you remember - the ones that had to have a "key" to tighten them onto your shoes - well - that was about the only place we had that had sidewalks good enough to try to learn how to skate. I tried, but I was a dismal failure. I don't know what possessed me to try to go skating with my friend David when we were the Young Adult reps for the ward.... I came out of that experience with a hyperextended knee. Should have remembered that if I couldn't do it when I was a kid, how in the world would I be able to do it as an adult.... BROTHER!
The old Church has been a blessing in my life. I can remember sitting on the old wooden benches and listening to the "two and a half minute" talks by my friends. I remember old Mike Ramsey - the bench he would sit at. I will digress here a little and write a few memories of Mike. He lived on the same street I did and I would see him walking on the street kicking a rock as he walked. There would be times he would kick that rock, walk up to it, look at it for an eternity and then kick it again. It was always so interesting to me how he would study that rock each time he would kick it. Mike would be found a lot at the old Ballard Brother's Garage. He'd be there shooting the bull with the Ballard brothers around the old stove in the middle of the garage. Lots of stuff was discussed around that stove. That was another landmark that has been destroyed that I feel badly about losing. Anyhow - Mike - One day I was riding my bike home from school - now remember - when I was in grade school, we had to wear dresses, no pants (we could wear shorts under our skirts if we wanted to climb on the monkey bars or twirl on the straight bar) - and I had just turned by the old Stinson home heading North to my house. I must have hit a rock just right because I went down hard. I still can remember trying not to cry as I looked at my hands and knees scraped and bloodied. There I was in a heap, when Mike came up to me. He didn't say a word, he just helped me get untangled from my bike and helped me to my knees and held the bike so I could get back on and sent me on my way, waving as I left. You know - from that day on - I thought of Mike in a whole different way. I would greet him at church and his eyes would twinkle. I remember one time at church, someone was sitting on his side of the pew. Mike got there and just stood at the end of the bench and just waited. He didn't move - he just stood there. I wish I could remember who it was that finally let the person know that he was sitting in Mike's seat, but as soon as the person scooted over, Mike sat down and the meeting started. I thought that was one of the funniest things I had ever seen - Mike standing there just as patient as he could be, but never mentioning to the person that they were in his seat.
OK - 'nough! Walking down by the old hospital. It burned down and then the town put the fire station there. I can remember the fire - how it was so big that it burned all of the electrical cables around it and they were sparking all over the road when they would hit the water. I think APS was a little slow in getting the power off because that power show was cool to watch.
Then we would get to school and go into the old Haywood building. I really wish it was still there. When the school district decided to tear it down, they had a dickens of a time because it was built to last. They claimed that it was not safe any longer, but I remember watching the wrecking ball hit the side of that building and bounce off of it like the ball was made of rubber. That building stood its ground for quite a while until it finally sensed it wasn't wanted any more and it came crashing down. I remember crying when I saw that. I feel I was very blessed to have had some of my education in that building. I had Mrs. Crandell as my first grade teacher, then Mrs. Blohm for second, then Mrs. Baum for third grade. We had orchestra in that building up stairs. I learned a lot in those sacred halls. I also learned that I had a lot of friends. As I have reflected on that, I really count my blessings for having the privilege of experiencing life in Snowflake.
I don't know - I guess I just had the need to express a few memories along with my blessings. I have felt that this medium has been good for me to dust off some of my cobwebs in my brain and share them with whomever is interested. I will probably add some more as we go along, so I hope you don't mind.
Thank you for listening and reading about my childhood. You have all made my life a blessing and I continually ask the Lord to bless each and every one of you.
Until next time.... Keep smiling - you never know who's life might be made a little better because you shared that smile!
Love you!
