Looking back

 

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

When we first moved to Nashville I was surprise to see how segrated the churches were. I have heard it said that Sunday is the most segregated day in the South. From my own evidence I would have to agree with this.

I don't understand why. I have also heard the segregation is mutual . Likewise I have no evidence to dissagree with that.

If you were born after 1970 I suspect it is very difficult for you to fully understand just how painful , angry and divisive the fight for intergration and racial equality was. My parents were segregationists , I would like to believe that neither my father or mother would have never participated or support racial violence , but they were certianly unwilling to do anything to change it.

My mother was from Oklahoma and was culturally disposed towards racism , my father seemed indifferent, but I also overheard him tell many jokes at the " expense " of black people.

Both of my parents urged me to proceed with caution when I became involved in the Civil Rights movement , and for reasons I cannot truly remember our home never had a black visitor.

I remember vividly the first time I really came face to face with the ugly reality of Segragation.

Living in Oregon we were largly divorced from the struggles in the North and the South. There were a few black people living in Oregon , but not in our neighborhoods.

The Summer between my eighth grade graduation and my first year in High School I spent the summer in Oklahoma ...this was 1960. I traveled to Oklahoma alone on a Greyhound Bus. When the Bus stopped in Oklahoma City near the end of my trip I needed to use the Bathroom in the Train station. There were three bathrooms there , they were marked : White women , White men , and Colored. I didn't get it I choose colored , when I walked out a man in uniform stopped me and asked me why I did that , I joked I was Pink . He wasn't amused , he thumped on a Bible He was carrying and said " well you must not be a Christian then ".

Prior to that time I had not thought much about Christians and " race " . I had as a youngster assumed that the Church was the moral guardian of society and having heard very little from the Pulpit on this issue I guess I just assumed all was well ....Likewise I assumed that if there was a problem and some of Americas Citizens were being mistreated because of their skin color that the Goverment that represented us would do something about it. I had no reason to believe that these two institutions , the Church and the State instead of leading America out of this growing cancer of segration and inequality would actually participate and contribute to the problem.

That summer in Oklahoma was like a graduation present from my parents for completing Grade School. I suspect that in today's world you would never send your 13 year old child , boy or girl on a three Bus trip across country.

But 1959 was a simpler time ...and a harder time as well. I remember constantly looking out the windows , taking in as much of the scenery as I could ...I enjoyed the different stops , I especially remembered Salt Lake city and seeing the Mormon Temple there ...and wondering where the lake was.

From Oklahoma City to Muldrow was a few hours drive it was night and there was a fierce storm lighting our way , on one occasion I know I saw a lightning bolt hit so close to the bus that the pavement was bone dry when the bus raced over it.

Late that night my Uncle peeked into the bus and shouted my name , and I left the bus an onto a summers adventure in the land of my Mothers birth.

My uncles name was Mel , he was the town barber in Muldrow , he smelled of hair tonic and shaving cream, had a twinkle in his eye , and an easy way with conversation. His wife was my mothers Sisters , Aunt Alice , Aunt Alice is still alive , the last of four children born in the hard times of hard scrabble , storm tossed , Oklahoma. She looks alot like my mother , younger , and less weary , My mother had two boys , Alice and Mel had no children.

Muldrow Oklahoma is a small town , a very small town , my mother had one Brother Otis who had nine children and one brother James who had two children , then two more . Several of Otis Children were close to my age and we spent that summer adjusting to being teenagers.

There are a few memories from that summer , driving a tractor , poisonus snakes , foul tasting well water , catfishing at night watching a tornado head our way. That summer I found how how blessed I was living in Oregon.

Mel and Alice were pretty comfortable , with no children and a corner on the Barber shop trade , they lived well within their means. Otis was a different story , likable , but indifferent to work , Otis was an inconsistent provider. The children lived a hard life , those things I took for granted like candy bars , and bottled cokes were rare treats for his kids. There was occasional Ice Cream but it was handmade , and the hand making was difficult work.

And there was more ...there was a poverty of education , I must have sounded like an Ivy league professor to those nieces and nephews and they didn't care much for professors ...they were disdainful and untrusting of education , preferring the " street " smarts of a city that had few streets.

And by their standards I must have been quite a nerd , struggling with hay bales , driving the tractor into the pond, and putting a hole in a 50 gallon oil drum while target practicing for a planned squirrel hunt.

The Squirrel hunt turned out to be a turning point , they had armed me with a 22 while they carried shotguns, they knew I would be at a disadvantage with the single shot rifle, yet when it was over I had two squirrels to my credit and the three cousins that adventured out with me had none.

I have to thank my dad for that ...he was a very good hunter and taught my brother and I how to shoot and shoot well . We trained on a single shot 22 and learned to make one shot the right shot.

As the demand for racial equality began to swell and build I spent my High School years almost oblivious to the first tremors of change. For two years I went to Benson High School in Portland Oregon. My parents wanted me to go to this school because if its Advanced Science Programs , Science was an Area I excelled in , I didn't excell in Shop class. ( Seventh and Eigth Graders in the 50's went to either Shop class ( boys ) or Home Economics ( girls ) . What my parents hadn't planned was that Benson was one all day Shop class. In the two years I went to Benson I Failed Welding, Aeronautics, Automotive, Machine Shop, Sheet Metal and Foundery classes , while getting a smatering of A's in Biology and Physics .

Benson was a " segragated " school with just about equal number of blacks and whites. I have no memory of any racial incidents while at Benson. It was at this time that I developed a reputation for getting in fights , I was constantly brawling with kids much bigger than me , Usually kids who because of their size and physicality liked to push other kids around ...I set a record at Benson I believed I had only lost about 17 of the 18 tiffs I was in ...It took me two years to really embrace passive resistance. Two years several broken noses , a couple of cut lips and an unfortunate nickname of Rocky ( not for the fighter but for the racoon ).

 

The Universe expands

Science fairs , Dancing lessons , guitar lessons , fishing trips to the Oregon Coast ..The Seventh and eighth grades went by in a blur ...for two years all we would hear about in Grade school was the promise of High School and more homework . We were getting older , our bodies were changing , our parents were giving us more and more responsibilities . As I try to recall memories from my last two years in Grade School they seem dimmer than the earlier years . I suspect because there were simply so many distractions .

In 1959 we were on the verge of a new decade Average Cost of new house $12,400.00 Average Yearly Wages $5,010.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 25 cents Average Cost of a new car $2,200.00 Movie Ticket $1.00 Loaf of Bread 20 cents Kodak Movie camera $67.50 Ladies Stockings $1.00

There were seeds being planted world wide that would have lasting impact on our lives but for the most part we were unaware of them : Fidel Castro comes to power in Cuba after Revolution with the first communist state in the west. Alaska becomes a State , in the Congo the first person dies from a new disease we will come to know as AIDS , and the micro Chip was invented in the USA by Jack Kilby .

At school Transistor radios were the rage , and on the playground at recess and noon the first feint stirrings of rock and roll could be discerned . The chartered plane transporting musicians Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper goes down in an Iowa snowstorm, killing all four occupants on board. The tragedy is later termed "The Day the Music Died," popularized in Don McLean's song, "American Pie."

In 1960 John F Kennedy announced He was going to seek the office of President of the USA and for some reason , perhaps His name Had Ken in to I decided to volunteer stuffing envelopes at His campaign headquarters in Portland Oregon. I remember initially my parents were not pleased mostly because Kennedy as a Catholic and they were convinced that the Catholic Church was behind His presidential bid . But in time they were less disturbed by my volunteering.

My boundaries were stretching ..from the confines of my yard ...Past the block , beyond the neighborhood and now to downtown Portland and the USA political Scene . More and more people apart from my Parents were beginning to form an impression on me . Several of my Teachers most notable Paul Jandreau the Science teacher and my Seventh grade teacher as well . Mr Pollard the Local Printer who let me watch Him set type , and listen to His Irish records . _______ a classmate who encouraged me to make my first phone call to a Girl.

Mr Kalisee , my Sunday School teacher , and there were the books lots of books . I was reading a lot in those days .Les miserables  by  Victor Hugo , Battle Cry by Leon M. Uris ,Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand ,Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak , Exodus by Leon Uris , Moby Dick Herman Melville , I was also enjoying Comedy narration like the Egg and I , and a book called Until Fish Do Us Part .

Like a planet settling into orbit I was attracting bits of flotsam into my boundaries . I was definitely sorting all this out ...Atlas Shrugged made the biggest impact on me ..and for the most part probably made a lot of people around me kind of miserable . Imagine the tension between the Humanity of Les Misreables and The virtue of selfishness espoused in Atlas Shrugged ..fortunately in time Victor Hugo held serve ...

As I think back ..I am confirming just how much each and every one of us are affected by the people and world around us ...and the need for boundaries that can put all of our experiences into perspective . Its not eh experiences that form us ..experiences happen , but it is the firm boundaries of faith , and family and Teachers who care that fuse those experiences into our world view ....

Slidding and Gliding Thank you Norm And Helen

As we grew older my parents continued to encourage Bob and I to develop intersts in the arts and Sciences . Dad would help Bob and i on our Science fair projects . The Science fair was a yearly event which began by having exhibits at the local Grade Schools and from there selected exhibits would be asked to be presented at the Oregon Museum of Science and industry . Both Bob and i had exhibits make this journey to OMSI .

My most memorable exhibit was a map of Oregon complete with mountain ranges and painted lakes and rivers . placed in the appropriate areas of the Map were rock and mineral samples . Dad was instantiate that i do most of the work . He assisted me in building the case that presented the exhibit. For years that Map was in our house . It was about 3 feet square , with wood putty mountains and actual samples of the rocks and minerals . A white frame enclosed the map and a glass cover finished it off .

My Parents also encouraged us to take Music lessons. Perhaps a response from a particularly bad experience I had with the Music teacher at the Grade School . Mr Brown was his name a quick tempered , mean spirited megalomaniac , who frankly had no business teaching children . Prior to being in his class I had used to enjoy singing in school . Singing was part of the curriculum in the early grades and we had quite a repertoire of Steven foster and pioneer Songs we used to sing in class . That was until Mr Brown felt it necessary to call me out in front of the Choir I had volunteered to be a part of and tell me and everyone listening I had no business being in Choir because my Voice was crappy . Or words to that affect .

Dad and mom were furious . while they definitely knew we had limitations they also felt that we should be encouraged rather than discouraged .

Bob and I started taking music Lessons in downtown Portland. Bob Took Accordion lessons and I took Spanish Guitar lessons from a man named Elliot Sweetland . Both required the purchase of an instrument and of course money for lessons , which my parents freely offered , though a hardship for them .

Both Bob and I took the local bus to downtown for our lessons . I don't know the exact address but the Studio was in a basement near the pioneer Courthouse. I enjoyed the guitar . And ended up laying pretty well . The big problem for me was the Chords . The Guitar had not made a breakout as a solo instrument yet , and it was used principally as a support instrument . I had very small hands and the F Chord in particular was very difficult for me . I did learn to read music , fascinated that those little marks on the music page could then be applied to the guitar strings and frets . I enjoyed playing the melody and for a long time I would spend my money on Music books instead of comic books ...Unfortunately over the years I lost interest in the guitar , too many competing interests I guess . But I wish I would have continued .

My parents then made a very important decision for me . One that would have a lasting impact . Truly one of those turning points in a life . I was enrolled in the Norman Stoll School of Dance .

Norman was trained by Author Murray . After the war Norm began teaching ballroom dancing at the Palais Royale Ballroom on West Burnside Street. While there Norm met another teacher and professional dancer, Helen Mills. He went on to marry Helen in 1949 and in 1952 welcomed their son, Wayne. In 1950 Norm and Helen founded the Norm Stoll School of Dance and Norm Stoll Enterprises. Through their dance studio, the two travelled all over Oregon teaching dance in many places-Milwaukie Jr. High and Gardiner Jr. High in Oregon City; Lake Oswego Country Club; Capitol Hill Community Center; The Dalles; Bend; and Elk Lodges, to name a few.

I was enrolled in the Capitol Hill Community Center . One of those things I have no idea how it happened I an  Sure I wasn't thrilled at first . Not only did it require being in the close proximity of girls , but it meant taking a bath and dressing up. This ordeal was made a little easier by meeting back up with my friend Lee whose parents had also decided to enroll him . I found put much latter than another friend , who you will meet later was also enrolled and went on to be a teacher with the Norm Stoll school .

The community center had a large dance floor and a stage area . when we entered the girls would usually be in one area and the boys in another. We dressed very formal for these lessons boys in slacks, dress shirts and ties occasionally a sport coat . Girls in party dresses . When the lessons began Norm and His wife Helen would demonstrate the dance we were about to learn . Music would begin and they would glide effortlessly around the floor the guys would exchange looks with each other that quite frankly showed more fear than batting against Wayne Twitchel or Frank Stricker . But before we could go into a full panic the boys formed one circle and the girls another . Music would play and we would revolved in opposite directions , the music would stop and we would be facing our dance partner . We did this frequently during the night.

We were taught the waltz , foxtrot ( two step ) calypso , and swing . each dance requiring us to hold on to each other and move in unison as a perfect graceful couple . Lee was very good at this , I would try as best I could to keep in eye contact with him ...He made me a better dancer .

It was also apparent that all of us were trying to learn .that each of us had stepped out into the unknown. even in those days of intense peer pressure it seemed as if all in that room encouraged one another and we were for the most part all equally intimidated and rewarded .

At the end of the evening the we would form a line the boys would then present their last dance partner to Norm and Helen . We would say Mr and Mrs Stoll I would like to present to you --and we would introduce our dance partner .

I never really realized until much later in my life just how important and how life changing these classes were ... Helen and Norm lived their lives with passion they gave more than they got out of life and they left a profound legacy of young adults encouraged and emboldened to meet what ever life put in our paths . I wish I would have understood in time to thank them for what they sewed into me ...Helen died in April 14, 2008, at age 83. Norm died Nov 30th 2011 , no doubt they are dancing in Heaven Closely holding each other Gliding gently on Heavens floor .

Quickly gone ..racing forward

" it goes so quickly "  Emily ( Our town )  

No matter how hard we try this planet keeps on spinning . There must be something about whirling in orbit that ages us .

 By the time I was in the Seventh grade I was already looking toward High School . Our teachers were constantly reminding us how much more difficult High School would be . By the time we reached seventh grade we were the " Big " kids in the school .

 I entered the Seventh grade in the Fall of 1959 . There was a lot going on in that year .

Science had gotton popular : Two major events seemed to fuel it one was the Space Program ,April 9, 1959  NASA  announced the names of seven men who will become the first US astronauts. They are Alan Shepard, Jr., Virgil (Gus) Grissom, John Glenn, Jr., Malcolm Scott Carpenter, Walter (Wally) Schirra, Jr., Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., and Donald (Deke) Slayton.

 The other was the Results of the International Geophysical year which had begun in 1957 and ended in 1958 . BY the time we had returned to School in the Fall of 1959 the planet was beging to give up some secrets and was on the brink of looking a whole lot smaller as well .

 During the 50's there was a change in some of the underlying theories of earth Sciences . By 1959 textbooks on the formation of the earth were being changed dramatically. It had seemed almost over night we had gone from believing the mountains of the earth were formed by the cooling of the earths crust , a theory sometimes referred to as the shriveled apple theory . to the idea that the there were these huge plates of earths crust floating on the Molten mantle of the earth . And as they jostled for position they would occasionally slam into each other and the result was mountain building , earthquakes and volcano's .

 In 1957 the Soviet Union had surprised the USA by putting a man made satellite in orbit . Sputnik was a small device . but this 23 inch sphere was about to change the world as well . As a Seventh grader I was not able to fully grasp the implications of the Russians putting a satellite in Space befre we had a chance to do it , and to be honest not sure i understand as an adult as well .

The Barbie doll was introduced in 1959 . Bonanza was first aired , and as 1959 rotated into 1960 John F Kennedy announced his Candidacy for the president of the USA .

Events from years before were forming the events of my last years in Grade school and these in turn were rushing toward a political murder and a man on the moon .

and just as the great plates of the earth were being thrust together and pulled apart by forces we could barely understand ..The boys and the girls of the seventh grade were racing toward ...maturity.

It wasn't a sudden thing , nor was it the same thing for everyone ..but for many of us boys girls started to look a little different in the seventh and eight grades . The smiles were brighter , the skirts were tighter , and curves were curvier . Boys went to shop class in the Seventh and eight grade . Girls went to Home Economics .

At Multnomah Grade school the Shop class was next door to the Home economics class ...through the smell of sawdust and burned plastic came the sweet smell of baked bread and cupcakes next door .

There was a huge gulf between the opportunities for girls and the opportunities for boys in those years . There were a few occupations that were " suitable " for girls nursing and teaching were foremost . For boys it was a wide open field . Boys had more opportunity in the work place and in the education system . It was a mans world .

But we weren't men yet ..we were working it out , In play grounds and locker rooms we joked , we dispensed bad information , we told tall tales , and somehow in spite of our collective ignorance we found ourselves ..thinking more and more about girls .

IN time each of us would find our particular niche of girl magnetism. For some it came as sports , for some it came as snappy dressing . For a great number of us it didn't come at all , at least not yet .

I felt awkward around girls , a perfectly normal conversation about rocket fuel would turn to mush when confronted with a ______ or a _______ . A perfectly executed Yo Yo spin would dangle hopelessly when Pricilla went by . A normal 1/2 minute conversation on the phone would turn into an oral dissertation of War and Peace if I tried to call a girl .  I aslo found out that most girls were not intersted in a dissertation about War and Peace , nor the Nuances of rocket fuel .  

Fortunately there was more to These late years than girls , I found refuge in the science class , and had already successfully blown up several rockets and set the Science Laboratory on fire by an ill advised use of turpentine on a smoldering fire .

The boy Genius who in the 5th grade had been invited into the select ranks of the special Science Club for seventh and eight graders was by the 7th grade a full blown nerd. And even as a Nerd I was failing ...then a singular event , something i never saw coming and when first thrust into I resisted with all the wiles in my wiley youth , would despite my protestations change all this in just a few months ....

Little League Lessons

Summer was Little league season . In our area we had two groups for kids my age , the majors and the minors . I Played on a minor league team . I was not all that bad . ( pats self on back ) . I was very good at fielding , fast . Hitting was my downside , but I cold bunt and hit through the infield so usually I batted lead off .

I tried all the positions except First base , but most frequently was put in as either shortstop or Catcher .

My dad coached the team for two years . We won our division each year , and I was selected to be on the Minor league all star team twice .

Dad was a great coach for little league , he had this unusual idea that if you came to practice you should be able to play . He was even heretic enough to believe that what was important in the game was learning to play it , enjoy playing , and having fun. Radical.

I really can't recall how many games we played in a week I think we played twice a week . and some of the games were double headers . IN the photo attached to this post my father is the one standing back Left , I am the good looking guy holding the bat on the right hand side and my Brother bob is sitting beside me .

We practiced a lot . Dad was real insistant on teaching us the fundamentals of fielding . I can't Remember the name of the other coach I belive His name was Mr Feller and His son was the other one holding a bat .

As I mentioned Dad would make sure that everyone of the team got a chance to play during a game regardless of the score . Often this would create some heated remarks from the parents in the stands , occasionally my mother would get into it with another parent ..Baseball was a family game .

My friend Lee played in the majors , Often we would se each other at the baseball games . and once a year we got to play at Alpenrose which was the big league venue for Baseball in the West hills .

 

Most of the team members names are gone in my memory . My Brother and I , Jim Miller , Earnie Bartnick  ( deceased ) ,  I will try to recall the others as well .

Our team was Verdermun Oil . Our colors were Dirty grey and Dirty black .

Leaving things for others to find

Our Adventures on the Coast were weekend adventures ...Friday we would leave , sometimes after a little league game. And we would return Sunday afternoon usually before dark.

The house was always left clean and spotless as if we had not even been around . If we used wood for the stove we replaced it on the wood stack . There was always wood to split and stack . Dishes washed and put away , beds made .

We would pile into the car and Head home . Bob and I would recount the curves on Highway 53 , surprised I guess their turned out to be the same number . We would turn right on the Sunset Highway and head east back toward Portland . about 30 miles up the road into the Coastal mountain range there was a rest stop . Not much more than a very wide place on the road . there was a natural spring that came out of the hills there and there was a stone enclosure for a water spigot . The water here was cool and sweet . and we soul stop for a drink and rest . MY dad would take a short nap in the car as we played on the grass and explored the creek that ran by the fountain .

Several years ago I was sharing part of this " History " with Lori , it was a rainy day and we had headed over to the Coast for a small vacation . I stopped at this same location . the Faucet was still there ..I wandered a few feet to catch a glimpse of the stream we played in . but the hillside was wet and slick and the under brush was not very inviting . I retreated to the car and we head on our way ..within a few minutes we could tell something was very wrong . The car began to reek ..the smell was horrible . Someone had let there pet run around and the pet had relieved itself near the fountain , and I Had tracked the evidence of this into the car . Realizing the enormity of the problem I pulled over at the first wide spot and immediately began to wipe my feet on any grass ,bush or limbs i could find to remove the offending material .

 Inside Lori worked feverishly with what ever she could find to remove the same material from the Gas and brake Peddle , and from the floor mat . We put what we could not leave behind in a Garbage bag , probably double bagged it . and headed back out . But it was not enough , the strong stench still remained ....and Lori started peeling some oranges we had brought with us for the trip and placing them in front of the hot air vent , then I would grind them up with my foot on the floor ...It eventually got better ..but for years later on the dark and rainy nights if you held your nose just right .....

The next major landmark on our Journey home was the Sunset Tunnel . The Sunset Tunnel was built in 1941 it was a WPA project the Tunnel is 800 feet long. Heading east once out of the Tunnel you begin a decent in to the Willamette Valley . Dad would usually honk his horn as we traveled through the tunnel if He didn't do it we would remind him ,

We would try to get home before dark. This made the unpacking part much easier . each of us had our assigned Tasks . Mine was usually disappearing quietly , and heading across the street to see if Rex were out . Rex made this weekend trip with us a few times , but after the Wounding him with the knife episode , the breaking of his bike during the great raid event , and the burning down the woods catastrophe , Rex's Mother seemed to have plans for him when ever we asked if He could join us .

I always appreciated it when Rex was in the Yard ... If he was not to be seen I would knock on His door , but often no one would come to the door . I found it odd that with as little money as they had that they would leave with the TV blaring and all the lights on ...but People do as people do .

If Rex was available I would spend a little time with him and tell him about all the fish I caught usually adding a little length , and weight to them as well as number ..I did this not to brag but to encourage his Pleading with His mother to let Him join us the next time out .

Rex was usually unimpressed about my fishing adventures ..even at times going so far as to suggest I was gently stretching the truth , however He said it differently.

I had learned when to return to our home just in time to see my dad and brother dragging the tent off the back of trailer and depositing it into the garage . MY " what can I do to help " was warmly greeted and usually well rewarded.

I did take responsibility for unpacking my own gear . Putting my Fishing poles where mom could trip over them and my tackle box in the middle of the floor where i could easily find it the next time out . Leaving the tackle box indoors seemed to have a negative impact on the almost live bait i carried in it . At times it was kind of comical to watch my mother race around the house sniffing both Bob and I trying to figure out what we may have stepped in . As I gained maturity I learned to take the eggs and crawfish tails and clam necks out of the tackle box and store them in the refrigerator . Usually at the back in the corner behind several Jars of half eaten pickles . Sometimes these moldering baits would slip their hiding spots and present themselves to my Mother as she was preparing some meal or another , whenever this happened it did not go well with me or the bait . I don't think my Mother ever understood that some fish preferred old bait as some people preferred old cheese . She also seemed to be somewhat territorial about the refrigerator..when it came to what went into it . My mother was wonderful , but she was not perfect .

If we got home early enough I would watch Omnibus . Then settle in for the wonderful world of Disney ...

The weekend would end with Mom tripping over my fishing poles and dad Demanding I take the tackle box into my room or the Garage . Depending on how stuffed up I was ...I would make a decision and then it was lights out ....the weekdays were coming .

A Mystry to Solve

The Cabin on Buchanon Creek came with its own caretaker . Although it seems ot me He was more of a " squatter " than a Caretaker . We called him shorty . I have no idea what his name was . Nor do I know much of his history. I wish I did .

If Shorty lived in Nashville , or Portland he would be one of those people you would find living under a bridge . As it was He lived in a small shack that could not have been more than 10 x 10 in size . inside of this shack was a small wood burning stove , the only source of heat and were He cooked the meals he needed to cook. The walls were covered with various items , all apparently useful to him and in the back of the space a platform with blankets for his sleeping needs .

As his nickname implied He was short , Just over 5 feet . I can't remember if he had a beard ..if he did it was invisible because of the dirt and grime on his face.

Shorty bathed once a week . He would ride his bike to a friends house near Saddle mountain . there He would take advantage of the friends Shower and Suana . then return back to his shack .

I do not recall ever seeing shorty smoking or drinking . Most of the food he ate he either grew or caught . When we started using the Farm house i know we often brought him meals and left him with whatever we had left over as we parted .

I can't recall Shorty ever doing anything for money . I suspect He barterd , traded , and foraged for his sustenance. In today's terms he was definitely off the grid .

The farm had some Livestock , Goats , Geese and Chickens and I am sure they needed some one to feed them and tend them . The Chickens layed eggs and shorty was able to eat them . When ever we came down on the weekends He had some for us . Maybe money went from my fathers hands to his I don't know .

Shorty didn't talk much when He did it was with a heavy accent . I believe He was Swedish. He smelled badly and His cabin reeked . Mom did not allow him in the cabin . and He had questionable decision making skills . ON one occasion we pulled into the house late at night as we entered the house we were greated with the worst smell you could imagine ...it was so bad we all got back in the car while my father went to investigate . finally after a heated conversation with Shorty ..Dad got in the car , slammed the door and we returned to Portland . Turned out that Shorty had trapped some salmon in the creek , but they were too old and decayed to eat so he through them away under the farm house .

When we returned the next week the smell was all but gone . Im not sure what Dad said to him not what threats he threatened him with , but it seemed to work. There was only one more similar instance and that was when Shorty had managed to trap a skunk under the house . although I do remember my dad saying the skunk did improve Shorty's aroma .

The interesting thing is all this did not seem to deter my brother and I striking up a friendship with Shorty. He let us Help him feed the animals , chop wood , and allowed us to do some of the other chores he did around the house . whenever we arrived we would usually ask him about the fishing conditions , which fish were in the creek , and if any wildlife was around . Deer were always a given . but we had the occasional Elk and black bear that wandered into the property . espicially when the apple trees were dropping their fruit .

Once we were established at the Farm House I bought some Forest service maps of the Area . and discovered that there was what appeared to be a lake not too far from the cabin . The lake was unnamed on the map . Shorty told us the lake was named Soapstone lake , and not too many people knew about it ...there was an an abandonded homestead near it ..and a larger orchard nearby as well . Twice Shorty took us to the lake . It wasn't quite what I expected to find , and yet I don't know what I expected . The lake was small ..it had the appearance of a lake formed by a beaver dam . As it turns out it is a spring fed lake and yes there were beavers there . The area around the lake had several dead trees , in various stages of decay .

Not sure when ..a few years after we started using the Cabin Shorty was killed . He was riding his bicycle back from His weekly soak . The rain and wind must have blinded him as he road his Bike into the front of an oncoming car .

I find it interesting how God sews people into our lives ...sometimes we know immeadiatly  , what He is doing for us , and other times the fruit takes longer to ripen . Its been over 50 Years since Shorty and my path crossed ..but I have a feeling  that this story is not done yet ....