Memories of Memories

Rich's News From Camp Oregon
Monday, October 24, 2016

Memories of memories

Rich at Bullards Beach

 During my first year at Natural Bridge Campground in southern Oregon Cheryl took a picture of me while I was contemplating journeys made in my youth with my family. We would stop near Union Creek and have a picnic by the Rogue River. Sitting beside the Rogue River near the area where we would picnic vague memories surface and a nostalgia for my family arises. All who experienced these childhood events are gone except my brother. Between the two of us we have vague memories.

The past week as we have been traveling up the Oregon coast. I again have vague memories of family. Passing by my old grade school in Jerome Prairie. Passing by Wilderville where I performed a trumpet duet with Jerry whose last name I don't recall. I remember us going up the hill in back of his house to watch crows come to a tree. There were 100s of them. We passed the turn off to Lake Selmac where I remember riding with my dad in a home made sail boat. Something broke and we were blown across the lake and had to walk back. Passing by Kerby where I remember missing 10 foul shots in a basketball game. Passing the turn off to Greyback where we would camp every year and somewhere near Cave Junction a turn off to go down the Illinois River to swim.

When we passed Jedediah State Park I remember camping there and playing in a pick up softball game. Then on through to Crescent City looking for the camp ground we used to use that was right on the beach. But I could not find it. One of my memories there of being 15 and wanting to strike up a conversation with a couple of girls my age but was too shy. Passing by Azalea Park in Brookings and visiting Harris Beach where we saw a dead whale.

Then on to Humbug Mountain Campground where I got the worst sunburn in my life as we camped on the beach with a shallow place to swim. Calling my brother I wanted to verify that was the place and we again both have vague memories.

Bandon, Oregon beach

Then on to Bandon where my father lived but as I searched my memory I cannot ever remember going there. We went to Sunset Bay a lot. I have a sadness that I do not know more about his life growing up. I have memories of stories. Memories of memories told not by my dad but by relatives. One being when he was a young man driving down seven devils highway when he sees the front wheel of his Model A? T? rolling down the hill in front of him. But little about his life there. I know he built a house at one time and his dad died working in a sawmill.

I have other family stories of my mom who was born in Coquille Her father had 3 or 4 logging trucks that he lost during the depression. They then moved to Jacksonville and he worked as a caretaker at the Henley Ranch which is just a mile or two from where my brother lives now.

So vague memories of my own and memories of memories of stories is what I carry. When my brother and I are gone so will those memories evaporate in the mists of time and the mists of our minds. 

Sunset. Subject to interpretation.