The Fourth Year - 1983

Growing up in Lakeside - technically it was Wagon Wheel (try and find that on any map) Arizona, had it's advantages and disadvantages. Our back yard was a construction company, and just behind that acres and acres of the worlds largest Ponderous Pine forest. Yes, I did say "construction company - it belonged to my grandpa. It was a company I later spent several summers working for.

As a child, even at three years old, climbing on and around tractor trailers, front end loaders, excavators and dump trucks was next to paradise. The endless forest beyond that was icing on the cake.

Growing up, I always thought my childhood was so hard. Forced to work, and go to work, with my dad every summer and pack wood from a huge pile just beyond our yard to our house every winter. Not to mention dishes duty we've already seen. Now looking back - there's no question about it - my life really was much more difficult than most children's. However, looking back now, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

My dad owned an old blue Datsun pickup, which we loaded up in every summer and went to the forest to gather wood for the winter. Yes, two adults and four children fit in that small pickup... safely?... not really, but we never died so stop judging. Society was different then. It was a time when it was fine to teach your children to work and seat belts were optional. If nothing else, it was family time. I loved that old Datsun. My dad let us sit on his lap and drive (steer) it sometimes. At that age, I never knew how poor we were and I really didn't care. Life seemed fun, even the work.