Three Years
It just occurred to me the other day
that this column has been going on
for 3 years this week.
I knew Lin Johnson who used to fill
this space every week. He grew up
and farmed just across
Hitt Road from where my Grandad and
Uncle Bill farmed many years ago. I
also attended high
school with his younger brother
Tebin in Idaho Falls. I always
looked forward to and marveled
at his ability to have a story ready
every week. I learned that he had
several done ahead and they
went on for some time after his
passing. When I contacted this
paper about doing a few stories
I had no idea that they could go on
this long. I have always known that
I have this great memory
for trivia and when a subject got to
working the memory recall kicks in.
Having this memory and
recall with a bit of tweeking is
where these stories come from, like
Lin Johnson I have had many
personal experiences while in the
military.
He with some close encounters while
with General Patton's Army in
Europe. I with my many postings
and experiences in Korea and Japan
just after the end of the Korean
Conflict. Unlike Lin, I was never
in any danger. Thank goodness for
that! And I must say here that
people on the home front have
no idea or concept of what a
military person has to go through in
times of war.
Anyway, I know that I have always
been a storyteller. And like a lot
of fellows some of the short
stories are not fit for mixed
company. Fun and humor is something
that we all need in our lives.
Part of my fun with this column has
been the calls, comments, questions
and discussions that have
come to me, and yes, some strong
critiques and corrections have been
made. For example, I was
always about a mile off on where a
stream of water forked. I said,
well, now you and I both know
the exact spot, and thank you. A
fellow called to ask about the
little gas engines that ran the
early
potato sorters. He is a collecter
of them. I couldn't help. A friend
doubted one of the Teton Dam
columns of the man, the fox and the
rock chuck being on the same roof
during that flood. Some
newly acquired friends from that
area verified that story, with
personal knowledge of the man.
Another said, 'Well, I can name
about 15 more streams that get into
Willow Creek.' He had to
admit that they were tributaries of
creeks that run directly into Willow
Creek. I have also had some
lovely conversations with ladies
from around the area. Thank you
all!
But the most fun for me has been
that Jean Schweider sold several
more of her books
because of this column. Oh yeah,
the Velvet Green Swallows returned
April 21st.
