Stories From an Unusual Life Blog
I was born on a cattle ranch in Wyoming. We weren’t starving then, but neither were we thriving. Growing up later in a small town, the only privileges we had were being the children of hard working, honest, loving parents who gave us the best life they could scratch together. I didn’t appreciate until later in life that not everyone was as lucky.
One of my gifts is having a remarkable video memory. Though we left the ranch when I wasn’t even tall enough to look into the bathroom sink without a stepstool, I have full color video footage of my world there from as early as 2-1/2 years old. I can still see a sky dominated by the white belly of my Dad’s horse, “Corky” high above, with the tall pillars of his shifting legs reaching down to the ground all around around me.
But growing up in a small town in Wyoming can be rough when you’re different–and I was an awkward, scrawny little kid with a mild but obvious birth defect. Despite being a poor fighter, I simply wouldn’t back down when I was being picked on. So, growing up amongst what seemed a bumper crop of bullies, I got into (and lost) a lot of fights. But there was something glorious about that goofy, awkward kid I once was. Imagine the nerve of wading into a wall of punches for the chance to land just one. What a lesson in life. I’ve come to love that goofy kid!
I decided to put these stories down for my kids. They grew up in better schools and nicer neighborhoods, but have secretly envied the stories that can come from growing up mischievous in a place open and wild enough that the playfully outrageous can become the norm.