Memoir Monday, June 28, 1959

 Long ago and far away. This was the summer after my sophomore year and a few months before a bunch of changes hit my life. I am sure most of the names will not mean anything to my readers- a few are still familair to me in a vague way but mostly not to where I can really call up a face or much of anything about the person. Just local horsey-world characters. This was a local rodeo held over at Dewey, AZ and we had gone to it before. This time I invited my best friend Evelyn (Morales--nee Graves) to go along. We had fun as I recall. At the time I was still pretty much into cowboys and rodeo stuff--well, I never totally outgrew that! And the "Buster" I refer to was my curent primo crush. He was the head wrangler for a guy who had bought some mules from us earlier that spring and was a real working cowboy--and a darn good looking one! One of the very few of my heroes my Dad was even fairly tolerant about which was a very rare thing! And no, I did not really cross paths with him again. :-(

Somewhere I am sure there are photos Dad took of the arena action but that film may never have been processed or the photos lost somewhere along the way. I did not yet have a camera. And we did move our pickup so the  guy was able to get out from where he had parked. Just a day in the life of a sort-of Cowboy Girl who was sixteen at the time. 

June 28, 1959 

Rodeo day. We had to do quite a few chores before we finally got away about 11:00. Evelyn and I chattered all the way over. We looked around quite a bit before the show started and saw such people as Bill Simon, Sam Steiger etc. They had some pretty horses in the grand entry. The pickup men were different this year and not as good as last year. Fritz McTarnahan has improved his stock. He had some good rough broncs and the bulls were really salty. Only one qualifying ride was made on the bulls, The same guy won bareback broncs. Old Mickey Contreras got tossed. He drew the roughest horse though. The ropers have some darn pretty horses. The announcer, John Snow, was good at announcing but a poor cowboy. Old Fritz dogged and did a good job. Chuck Sheppard fluffed his loop. It seems that a few working cowboys took the roping. In the latter part of the rodeo Sam Steiger announced. Boy his tongue is hung in the middle and forked at both ends. He was a bit drunk, cussed and was really sarcastic.  Saw several guys who caught my eye; a blond blue eyed guy with a little boy who was by the truck we sat on. He looked up at me and grinned; a dark bronc rider with blue eyes who turned and looked at me, a guy with coppery hair whom I fear was half drunk, the bronc rider whose truck we sat on and a brown shirted guy. At intermission Eve, Charlie Mike and I went back to the Ford. I leaned up to ask Dad what had happened and he said ‘nothing’. I said “I see.”  This brown shirted guy said “Ah, si. We would like to get out por favor.” I about answered him back in Spanish. Also saw Mervin Foster (drunk) and his girl and a kid who looked like Clifford Sleep. They were going off with the copper haired guy. Lots of people were drunk. Although it is not as organized it was a bigger and better show than last year’. I think Evelyn was greatly impressed and even Charlie Mike mostly shut up. Most of the good rodeo hands are ugly. Even the cute guys can’t hold a candle to Buster. Something tells me I’m going to meet him again. “Turn ‘im to me.”

Just so there are a picture or two: Me with my mare Tina, in the rugged hills on the east side of the Verde River near Clarkdale. And me with Ruby, a lttle mule we got about the same time as this journal entry. I later rode her a lot as she was small for a man and a heavy saddle. She was the prettiest deep red color, like a real dark Hereford cow. 

Memoir Monday: June 21, 1960

June 21, 1960 Tuesday 

I guess today was a pretty good day even though everything wasn’t quite like I had planned it. We didn’t ride but got a load of hay instead. Bob Smith had lopped off his bush-puss and looked years younger. That Kerley sure is ugly. Reckon “Moose” will look like that in about twenty five years. Didn’t do much in the afternoon. Hurriedly finished the chores and got all dolled up. Mrs Blahnik took a picture of all of us (Arlene, Judy, Eve, Ron and me) The dinner was pretty good but mom cooks better. We listened to records and some danced too. They had Arlene’s party at the Assemby of God church. Arlene was really surprised. It was fun. We played a bunch of kid games and stuff. Ron chose me second (after Judy) to be on his team (ahead of Venita Crick who’s supposed to be batty about him) He brought me home alone and we talked real friendly. He said he wanted to see me again before he leaves but he talks like that to all the girls. Anyway the way he kept looking at me up at Arlene’s makes me wonder. Of course he was with her tonight but there are other nights. Before he leaves I want him to kiss me. Not so much because I like him; I don’t but I don’t want to be unkissed sweet seventeen any longer. He guessed I was sixteen. “No,” I said. “Fifteen?” “Gads! Seventeen. I’m insulted.” Well I guess that about takes care of tonight. Oh yes, guess who was announcing over at the ball game? My new big blon’ baby. He didn’t see me, worse luck. I’d loved to go riding around but not with John Paget, D.F. Frisbee and David Eggers. If Arlene had to be with Ronnie, I’d just stay home. Which I am. Big deal. Adios, Gaye PS Arlene liked her present. Tomorrow I’ve got to return Eve’s lipstick and she’s got to give back my ring. I had fun today. I wouldn’t want to go to a party every day but once in awhile they are cool. 

It was the summer before I went back to school after the "Mule Year" and I was sneaking into a teenage rebellion phase about now. Lots of wishes and big dreams and such, few to none of which were going to come true. I wish I had some more photos of this time but I did not have a camera yet and of course Dad and his cameras were not following me around. (Thank all the Powers for that!!) I felt pretty grown up at seventeen since I had been doing an adult's work and level of respoonsibililty for close to a year but as far as my personal life went, I really felt I was held to about a twelve year old level. And that was not far from the truth. It was a **rare** event to go to a party and be out for an evening with the local lower Clarkdale gang, most of whom were younger than me and had fewer restrictions on their social lives.

 Ah so. Kerley--he had a farm down between Cottonwood and Bridgeport--which were not in effect all one town at that time--and we often got hay from him. We were feeding a bunch of horses and mules by then and ran through hay like crazy. I think Bob Smith worked there; no one I was particulary impressed with."Moose" was the nickname of Marvin Kallsen. I had been in school with him at Willard for two years and he was my first serious crush at the age of eleven or so. When he was about 13 he was "cute" but grew into a big galloot and no longer 'cute' at least to me by high school senior age! 

Judy Davis and her family lived kind of undeneath where the middle school once stood, up the canyon from where it ran behind lower Clarkdale. Ron was Judy's older brother who was home on leave from the Navy--which meant he was probably 19 or 20, a cool age to teens like me. Arlene and Evelyn, then Blahnik and Graves but later Sandoval and Morales, lived a block up from me and were my two besties at that point altough they were 2 and 3 years younger. This was about a year before they began going with the guys they married, Robert and Albert. I think Evelyn already had an eye on Albert but Arlene was kind of playing the field. As for me, well my usual crushes on rodeo and TV stars and shopping around for that kewl cowboy who never quite appeared. I really was not into the guys at school. 

Sadly Arlene passed away this past January due to Covid and peuemonia. That was so sad to me. I am still in touch with Evelyn, at least sporadically, and I have no idea where the Davises ever ended up. Moose passed away in New Mexico about 2004. He was living and working in Albuquerque at the time and left a widow and some kids and grands. His dad had heart issues and died very young and I guess Marvin was similar, just early 60s. 

Here are Arlene, Judy and Evelyn from the yearbook photos and the three Clarkdale "mesquiteers" at a reunion in 2013, I think. We had not changed all that much and the old friendship was still strong!

Memoir Monday, June 14, 1957

 I was just done with grade school and diving into much more cowboy girl stuff in the vacation time  between 8th and 9th grades. 

June 14, 1957 Friday (?)

Got up at 6:30. Fed the stock etc and packed the Jeep. Louie and Stormy wouldn’t load in the trailer together so we just saddled up. Left about 11:00. It was quite windy but otherwise pleasant. It was very pretty up on the North Point Trail. Got to the top about 3:30. Took lots of pictures, some of me on Louie and Stormy with my chaps on. I really hope they turn out good. We reloaded and left at 5:50. We really came flying down the mountain. We got home at 9:10.  Put the critters up and ate supper.  We saw 6-8 deer, two big bucks. Also a fox.  Bed sure felt fine! Notes: I was quite sunburned. Hope it doesn’t peel. Guess we’ll take Stormy home tomorrow.  Adios Luz de Oro Scarlet

This was my frst ride up to the North Point of Mingus which became a favorite and much loved place to visit when it was hot weather. It was fun in the winter, too. Not sure on the day of the week but I think it was Friday. I was in a doofy nickname stage about then (Light of Gold and Scarlet?? Yikes!) LOL, 

This trip. Dad had borrowed our freind Charley Bryant's fine horse Stormy. I am not sure why we did not take Lady or Chindy except they were getting older and maybe not up to an all day 40-50 mile trip including a climb of  about 6500 feet! Tina was still too young and not trained yet so it was the mule, Louie, and Stormy who made the trek.

We followed a route up the grassy ridge to the south of the Clarkdale-Jerome Highway and then may have gotten on the Allen Spring Road or cut across below it for a distance and then headed up across it and on to the  top of Mingus. The North Point Trail did intersect with the Allen Spring Road but we often short-cut that since the junction was a ways south on the road.

The trail was established and roughly maintained at the time. Whether it still is now or not, I have no idea. Anyway, it was steep, rocky and ascended in many switch backs. It got to be very familiar over the next ren years since it was a good place to try out new mules and some horses for mountain worthiness and to exercise some who had more energy than good behavior for awhile.

Among the photos I mentioned were several favorites so I'll insert them below. I had worn my new chaps, a gift earlier that year. They came in handy riding through the thick brush at times.  Mostly I was wearing my beat up old black cheap (wool felt versus fur felt) hat that was about to the end of its days but the shot of me on Stormy, I had on Dad's good Stetson. The view out across the valley from up there was amazing!! This was before the summer rains began so it was a bit hazy with dust and no clouds in sight. I surely cherish these memories. 

About 500 yards before the crest. 

Stormy, a real fine cowpony

Riding Louie and holding Stormy--what a view!

Memoir Monday, June 7, 1958

 Long ago and far away!!  I had just finished my Freshman year at Clarkdale High before it became Mingus. 

June 7, 1958 Sat

Got up at 6:30. Rode Tonalea. Ate and did the chores. Cleaned up the yard more. Went to town. Went to the drugstore for the first time since the 28^th. Remember? I do! Home. Rested til lunch. Noon chores. Fixed refrigerator door. Unloaded Bryant stuff and went to Cottonwood for pills. Home; worked on rigging. Lost a keeper under the post pile but I finally found it. Rode Liz and Lou. Liz is doing swell. Usual chores, ate and to bed. I am not embarrassed by bear hugs any more. I guess I am really growing up. Maybe they don’t know it now but when the right guy comes along, he will fall with a bang. Give me two years to have a beau with a truck and me sitting tight. Adios, Gaye

Tonalea was a little buckskin pony from the Navajo Reservation. My Dad had taken Charely Bryant, an old cowboy friend, up there the previous year as Charley planned to get some goats. He didn't but instead bought a young horse which he gave to me when they got back, in late May 1957. I had him for a couple of years and then he was in and out of my life a few times later. I really liked him. 

At this time, Charley was going to stay with us a short while. His wife had gone down to Globe to take care of his ex-wife who was dying of cancer, and he was not going to go for a little while so we had his stuff at our place. Yes, it sounds odd but I know they all had reasons. Elvie Bryant was a kind, good  western style woman who had been born a Willard so I bet she did this with no complaint. 

Reference to the 28th and the drugstore-actually Wombacher's news stand--was to the last talk I had with one-year classmate, Tyce Miller who was a semi-boyfriend. I never saw him again as his parents moved and he went to New Mexico Military the next year. 

Liz and Lou were mules we had; they were sold the next year to a "dude rancher" who took people in to the Rainbow Bridge National Monument . We had gotten Liz recently as a reject from the Grand Canyon.

I had high hopes but that guy with a pickup truck did not come along for quite some time! I was fifteen at this point and what I wanted I did not necessarily get! But I guess a girl had to dream. 

                               *****

The photos: My annual picture, either 8th or 9th grade. I hated it at the time and thought I looked very geeky.  Oh well! I did hate my ugly glasses! That style was not fashionable then. 

The next is Tonalea as he looked on the Rez. He was well broke though only about 2-3 years old. The Navajo man who owned him was a good horseman and also had herds of sheep and goats. 

Finally the mule Lizzie (Liz) not long after we got her. Dad was gentling her at the time as she was not very well broke or trained at all. Her ears show she was nervous. She became a  good mule though.