I always enjoy the stories by Been Thinking. I haven’t heard from him in a while, but nice he is back with us. It is like a wonderful trip down memory lane of how things used to be.  Now, it seems like it was a much simpler time, but during those times, it was sometimes just as difficult.  Different issues, in a different time.

While I will be reaching the half-century mark next year, I always appreciate the time that I grew up on our little Rez, called Red Cliff. 

One of my Gramma’s, would write down what she needed from Pit’s, then I would be off on my adventure of charging those items up.  Of course, when Gramma would get her old age pension, she would pay off her bill at Pit’s.  That little adventure to Pit’s was interesting for a 5 or 6 year old.  First, the occasional meeting of the minds, under the old tree across of Gramma’s.  Some of the locals, with their fire water, would gather and discuss the local events, tell stories, or be singing.  Maybe they did, but I never heard of them fighting each other….

The other interesting place to take note, was just beyond Manny Daley’s.  There was a little trail, that led to a nice and shaded resting area for the locals.  I guess if it was too hot under that old tree, they had a back up place to cool off.  Hmmmm…guess they weren’t so dumb, huh?

If it was during the evening going to Pit’s, that was another story.  Dark, no street limits, barely anyone had an outside light, making it pass a place called Bella’s (where Peterson’s Fisheries is now located)….and hearing the crickets and frogs in the little pond Benny Monteral’s and Goslin’s.

Since I stayed with Gramma a lot, I remember the smell of wood burning the kitchen stove as she made us oatmeal and wheat toast…almost every morning!  Also, when she would wash clothes from the rain water, I would also take my little water pail to get water from the well by Yommie and Leonards.  

It is sometimes funny to think of how people survived…way back then, considering all the modern conveniences we have now.  The outhouses and slop pails, no running water and having to take a bath using the wash basin.  But, we just did it.

Been Wondering has been a-wondering what memories will be written about years and years from now.  But Been Wondering will just enjoy this nice little trip down memory lane for now.  It is comforting to know there is still a place to go to, when things sometimes are just too much…Thanks, Been Thinking!