Do you remember how much things like gasoline, stamps, and food costs? During what years were these prices valid?
Candy bars cast 10 to 15 cents. Gum and lifesavers were 5 cents each. A movie coast fifty cents with candy succors for 5 cents but there was a catch too. If you got the succor with a star inside the label you got get a free one. Gasoline cost around 35 cents a gallon. I remember in Texas in 1971 when we would drive a mission car and gas up every other week for 19 cents a gallon and it was over a dollar a gallon by the time came home in 1974. There was a reason that a lot of candy was called penny candy and that was because it only cost a penny. It was fun to get a small allowance because it didn't take much to get candy and treats. The cost of a First Class US postage stamp in 1960 was 4 cents. It was raised to 5 cents in 1963. It went up to 6 cents in 1968.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Feb 16, 2011
What were some of the best experiences in your early years?
I would consider the relationship that my parents had with each other as some of the best experiences in my youth. There was never any abuse by him to her. They loved each other and showed us that they did. Dad always respected her and they worked together to raise us.
I had some very wonderful siblings to play with which we did a lot of too. From games outside to games inside and games with friends and neighbors. There were a lot of those special experiences. We did a lot of work together as well which also made them special.
Then there were many other experiences as well. I had great experiences with my Uncle Mont at the ranch in Indian canyon. I still remember riding a horse from the ranch in Indian Canyon to Duchesne seven miles down the canyon. We were herding sheep down to town where we would put them into a corral there. Mont was always very funny and fun. He loved to eat a raw egg just to get a reaction from you when eating breakfast. he always called me Kentucky Pete.
I had special cousins and was actually around the age of their children. Lori and Chris Poulson were a couple of my childhood playmates since they lived next to grandma Poulson. We loved to go to Grandma's and play between the two homes. We also spent quite a lot of time playing in grandma's shed. It was like a playhouse to us.
I had special scout leaders in cub and boy scouts. Sisters Wimmer and Hansen did a lot of hard work to give us great experiences in cub scouting. Then Brothers Hansen, Hooper and several others that worked hard to give us great scouting experiences. I went on several camping trips into the Granddaddy Basin lakes. They were always there to give us support in whatever we needed to do to earn merit badges and rank advancements.
I am writing my history in story form and will have more specifics about these experiences.
I would consider the relationship that my parents had with each other as some of the best experiences in my youth. There was never any abuse by him to her. They loved each other and showed us that they did. Dad always respected her and they worked together to raise us.
I had some very wonderful siblings to play with which we did a lot of too. From games outside to games inside and games with friends and neighbors. There were a lot of those special experiences. We did a lot of work together as well which also made them special.
Then there were many other experiences as well. I had great experiences with my Uncle Mont at the ranch in Indian canyon. I still remember riding a horse from the ranch in Indian Canyon to Duchesne seven miles down the canyon. We were herding sheep down to town where we would put them into a corral there. Mont was always very funny and fun. He loved to eat a raw egg just to get a reaction from you when eating breakfast. he always called me Kentucky Pete.
I had special cousins and was actually around the age of their children. Lori and Chris Poulson were a couple of my childhood playmates since they lived next to grandma Poulson. We loved to go to Grandma's and play between the two homes. We also spent quite a lot of time playing in grandma's shed. It was like a playhouse to us.
I had special scout leaders in cub and boy scouts. Sisters Wimmer and Hansen did a lot of hard work to give us great experiences in cub scouting. Then Brothers Hansen, Hooper and several others that worked hard to give us great scouting experiences. I went on several camping trips into the Granddaddy Basin lakes. They were always there to give us support in whatever we needed to do to earn merit badges and rank advancements.
I am writing my history in story form and will have more specifics about these experiences.
Feb 15, 2011
Have you ever been hospitalized or had surgery? What for?
Yes. When around 8 years old. I was bleeding when i urinated. I went to the hospital in Roosevelt for 1 week and the went home for one night and out to ST Mark's hospital the next day. Dad and mom took me in our car.
I learned that I hated Pepsi just before I left the hospital in Roosevelt. Actually mom had taught us never to drink it and so I had asked for 7 Up every time they brought a drink to me that week. Finally the last nurse felt that I had been having enough 7 Up and brought me some Pepsi. I got sick and threw up all night and have never had it since except when given it to me wrong but I only take one taste and recognize the mistake and can't finish it.
I remember counting over a hundred and fifty cars coming out of Salt Lake city headed for the deer hunt. It was the friday before the deer hunt. I was then put in a room with three other empty beds. By the evening of the next day I had three roommates that were all hurt during the deer hunt. I went into exploratory surgery the following monday. They came in and gave me something to put me out. I remember the room spinning around pretty fast before I finally went under. I woke up and was watching Zorro. I also remember my confusion at wondering why a show I always saw in the afternoon showing at 7:30 in the morning in Salt Lake City. Well it wasn't and I had been out the entire day. It also really hurt to urinate but they still never found any problem. I have never had a problem since then.
Yes. When around 8 years old. I was bleeding when i urinated. I went to the hospital in Roosevelt for 1 week and the went home for one night and out to ST Mark's hospital the next day. Dad and mom took me in our car.
I learned that I hated Pepsi just before I left the hospital in Roosevelt. Actually mom had taught us never to drink it and so I had asked for 7 Up every time they brought a drink to me that week. Finally the last nurse felt that I had been having enough 7 Up and brought me some Pepsi. I got sick and threw up all night and have never had it since except when given it to me wrong but I only take one taste and recognize the mistake and can't finish it.
I remember counting over a hundred and fifty cars coming out of Salt Lake city headed for the deer hunt. It was the friday before the deer hunt. I was then put in a room with three other empty beds. By the evening of the next day I had three roommates that were all hurt during the deer hunt. I went into exploratory surgery the following monday. They came in and gave me something to put me out. I remember the room spinning around pretty fast before I finally went under. I woke up and was watching Zorro. I also remember my confusion at wondering why a show I always saw in the afternoon showing at 7:30 in the morning in Salt Lake City. Well it wasn't and I had been out the entire day. It also really hurt to urinate but they still never found any problem. I have never had a problem since then.
Feb 14, 2011
Did you have any childhood diseases or health problems? Any stitches or broken bones?
When I was three I had a disease the same as Clair had when he was younger.
Here is the description as given on the internet.
Perthes disease is when the ball of the thighbone in the hip doesn't get enough blood, causing the bone to die. Symptoms: The first symptom is often limping, which is usually painless.
I had to have a brace that connected to my hip and foot on my right leg. The brace kept my leg straight and pressure off of my joints. I remember trying to climb the stairs. If you want to know what it was like then the next time that you get to a set of stairs hold your leg straight and swing it up on the next step then lift yourself up onto the step in whatever method you can use. I usually leaned against the wall to help.
Other than that I had the usual diseases for the time but don't remember them.
There was a side effect to the perthes disease however. My feet were turned out and I would wear shoes out on the side. So I had to wear corrective shoes specially made by a person in Provo. I wore them until I was 19 and left for my mission.
When I was three I had a disease the same as Clair had when he was younger.
Here is the description as given on the internet.
Perthes disease is when the ball of the thighbone in the hip doesn't get enough blood, causing the bone to die. Symptoms: The first symptom is often limping, which is usually painless.
I had to have a brace that connected to my hip and foot on my right leg. The brace kept my leg straight and pressure off of my joints. I remember trying to climb the stairs. If you want to know what it was like then the next time that you get to a set of stairs hold your leg straight and swing it up on the next step then lift yourself up onto the step in whatever method you can use. I usually leaned against the wall to help.
Other than that I had the usual diseases for the time but don't remember them.
There was a side effect to the perthes disease however. My feet were turned out and I would wear shoes out on the side. So I had to wear corrective shoes specially made by a person in Provo. I wore them until I was 19 and left for my mission.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Feb 13, 2011 Video Chat
I love to talk with my grandchildren on the computer. They live in Arizona, Texas and Colorado. I just don't know why I haven't figured out that I should do some screen captures of them while we are talking. I did it tonight and they are just fun. Thanks Hallie and Leilah for being so cute.
Feb 14, 2011
The next question from the book was more about pets that I already included in the ast post. So since my mind has been heavily upon the experiences with David Nemelka that I have had I am posting a story from my history that took place while he was a Scout Committee Chairman and led to the event where we had 14 Eagle Scouts at one time.
Scout Camp of 1992 - 400 MB's
In 1986 I attended Wood Badge at Camp Maple Dell and learned some very important leadership principles that I later used as I was asked to be the Scout Master of Troop 66 in 1988. However I was asked in 1989 to be an Assistant Scout Master (specifically the Quartermaster) for a Junior Leader Training Course known as Timberline in the Utah National Parks Council where I was Scout Master. A cousin Mark Poulson was the Course Director/Scout Master and had asked me to participate and to bring Ben along as a Junior Staff Member. I became very involved in Timberline at that point and 16 years later finally retired from involvement on the District, Council and Area Junior Leader Training Staffs. I expanded my leadership knowledge through participation in this area of Scouting. It not only helped me with leadership in the council responsibilities it also helped me in my troop responsibilities.
After I had participated in Timberline for about three years I decided to put the principles to use in my troop. I had been Scoutmaster for over four years and from the knowledge that I had gained decided to put together a summer camp that would not just give the boys a good experience but jump start them in a huge way toward their Eagle Rank.
I had a number of boys in the troop that were 12 and 13 years old but had a lot more in the ward that were still not Eagle Scouts. I decided to use these older boys for my staff and then put together a camp where we would specifically work on just merit badges. I used the Patrol Leader’s Council at the end of the summer prior to the year that I wanted to do this and we decided on 20 to 25 merit badges that we could do during the year. My plan was to work on the badges during troop meetings from October to July and we would concentrate on the requirements that included paper work and research at home. Then in the end of July we would do a summer camp at Bristlecone where we would work on all of the rest of the requirements that required we be in the outdoors to accomplish. So it began in October and we studied, as I remember, about 25 merit badges. Over a few weeks we decided to limit them to 22 merit badges. We spent troop meetings late at night one month doing astronomy since there was a special event occurring that spring where three planets were lined up very close to each other in the night sky. My home at that time was still far enough away from the city lights that we were able to see the stars and planets clearly. We also did other special projects to help do the other merit badges.
We still held our monthly campouts and had great participation in them from all of the boys in the ward. We prepared by using the patrol method and continued to build up our camping equipment.
Finally we were ready and went to Bristlecone early on Monday morning. I had three adult assistants. There were 20 boys and we had put them into three patrols. I took an old motor home that had been lent to me by Dave Nemelka for use in the scout camp. After I had driven it down into Bristlecone I worried that I wouldn’t be able to get it back out the steep road to get home. We did make it but had another vehicle chained to it to help get enough power to climb out.
At Bristlecone Varsity Teams form Carbon County had used a number of trees to build villages off the ground. It had killed a lot of the trees and so each year they would cut down some of the dead ones and make shorter logs out of them. There was an old log cabin where we set up our camp. We kept all of our food in it to help keep it from predators. (It didn’t help as skunks could still get in and did so during the week.) However the trees that were cut down were just down off the hill from the cabin so we pulled them up out of the trees and lashed them together for our tables for the week. We built three of them, as we needed one for each patrol.
During the week the 16 and 17 year old boys acted as merit badge counselors for the camping part of the badges. We did merit badges like hiking, bird study, camping, and other easier ones like basket making and leatherwork. It was fun and I still specifically remember studying an ant farm in a tree and others on the hillside in mounds. We did bird study and did a number of hikes around the hills. We looked for wild animals and even spotted a large herd of Elk that we watched during the week. We did a mountain top patriotic experience and then did all the normal camping stuff which helped us to complete the cooking merit badge as well as others. I can’t remember all of the badges we did that week but I do remember the last hike required for our hiking merit badge.
On Thursday morning we left early for our “20 mile hike”. We had all of the maps of the area known specifically as the Kyune Quadrant. (I learned a lot about the area that week especially of the history of the railroad that winds through the canyon.) We went east from camp and wound down off the mountain headed toward the Price recreation campground area. I had never been to that area but knew that it existed. I had different boys leading us to the area by the use of the map and compass skills we had been developing. One leader went with me, Orin Bawden, and he became a key player toward the end of the hike. We stopped and had snacks along the way and had our canteens of water. It was a hot summer day but the first part of the hike was even somewhat cool as we were hiking at 9000 feet elevation. We had a great time and even ended up on a nature trail that led us right down off the hill into the park. We filled up our canteens, rested and the first 6 miles was over. We then left the park following the road down to highway 6 that runs from Spanish Fork canyon to Price. It was three miles to the road and just as we were getting to the junction of the roads we met a US Forest Service Fire Fighting truck headed up to the park. He stopped and got out his hose and sprayed the boys. It got them soaked and I was worried about them hiking in wet shoes but they thought it was great and really had a good time. We left there following Highway 6 up to the rest stop at the top of the canyon which was another three miles. We practiced our hiking skills that we are supposed to use along highways. I went first and Orin followed at the end. There were parts of the hill where we were spread out several hundred yards. I tried to keep a slower pace so that we could keep the boys closer together but it didn’t always work. ( I learned over the years that no matter how fast or slow the leader goes that there will always be boys who keep up at the front and boys who will lag as far behind as possible whether it be a short five mile hike or a long 20 mile one.) I had planned on filling our canteens again at the Kyune Rest Stop at the top of the hill near the highway before we continued up the hill to the camp. It was at least a 1000 foot climb over 7 miles to return to camp and I knew we would need water for the afternoon part of that hike. I was sorely disappointed when we got there and no water was to be found. The water I had remembered being there years ago had been taken out some time earlier by the state road department. So it was early 1 pm and we had the heat of the afternoon to walk up the dirt road back to camp. I have said many times since then that I would go the opposite direction if ever given the chance to repeat that 20 mile hike. At least that way we could get water for the last 6 miles.
At that point I knew the boys couldn’t get lost and decided to let them go as fast as they wanted since the sooner the lead boys got back to camp the sooner we could have the other scout masters bring water to us. I stayed behind with Orin as we were already having a couple of boys that were resisting the rest of the hike. Two boys in particular were really struggling to make the hike. Orin had kept most of his water and ended up walking about 100 yards and then telling them they could have a little water as soon as they got up to him. After about three miles it became evident to both of us that we would need more water, and faster than we had planned. I started hiking faster and told Orin I would go to camp and bring back water. I had hiked another three miles and passed several of the boys who were starting to also struggle. By the time I had reached the top of the hill a half mile later I was met by one of the leaders in a vehicle with more water. I relaxed my hiking at that point and he took the water to the boys as he went down the road. I was surprised to later discover that Orin and the two boys that had the hardest time were only about a mile behind me at that point. Orin’s 100 yard method had worked pretty good even though he was out of water before our other leader got to him. There were also boys that had been back to camp almost a half hour before I got there. We all had some blisters and some had some real bad ones form hiking in their wet shoes but it ended up being the highlight of the camp that week.
Friday night we were joined at camp by three other adults (Tom James and David Nemelka were two of them) who were members of the Scout Committee and the adult leaders wives. We had a great patriotic camp fire, great dutch oven food and retired an American flag. Then we went to work the next morning making the camp official and the merit badges official. Several of the boys had written reports during the week to finish up the paperwork parts that they had missed at various times through the year when they had missed troop meetings and others were still doing them that morning. The troop committee then held a long Board of Review as we had to get each boy through the process. They would each meet with me in my tent and we would make sure that they had finalized all of the merit badges and then they would meet with the members of the troop committee that had come up. I had a spread sheet with all of the merit badges requirements and the boys names so that I knew where they were. We had a lot of work to do that morning and while some of the boys were completing requirements the others were breaking camp and cleaning up form our week. It ended up being a great success in that we completed 400 plus merit badges for a combined total of 22 boys. I was thankful for all of the help that had come with me and I was very impressed by the boys who had acted as the counselors during the week. They had each prepared well and in so doing had passed off a lot off the requirements for themselves.
I had been successful because I had used the principles of leadership that we had been teaching in Timberline. The principles of sharing leadership, knowing and using resources and counseling were especially useful that week and I will include other stories from the week to illustrate that later in my history.
Feb 13, 2011
How many pets did you have? Which one was your favorite?
I had several pets or at least we did as a family. Many of them I don't remember their names but one of the earliest was a large black dog that was very protective of us. The story is told of him walking between Marsha and the hole to the septic tank that was being dug out in the field. I don't know when that dog died or why but it was probably poison that had been left by neighbors at the edge of the fence between our properties. We lost a number of dogs to that.
The three pets that I remember best were a small black female day named PeeWee, an old grey cat named Smoky, and her kitten named Flame. PeeWee was brought home as a pup and died at an old age of at least 15 or more. I was married before she died. She was a fun dog to have and didn't have pups until she was actually several years old. She had two pups that lived for some time and I don't really remember what happened to them. PeeWee used to go for long runs or adventures and one time didn't come home for several days. When she did she was walking on three legs. She had been apparently caught in a trap and finally chewed off her leg to come home. Dad took her to a vet in Roosevelt and he removed the leg to the shoulder. She was with us a lot of years after that. I still can see her climbing the hay stack with just those three legs and sitting on the top looking across the valley and watching the traffic (I Guess) on Highway 40. She could run pretty fast on those three legs and the front one that was left became very large and strong. She would stand along by the cows when I milked along with the cats and lap up milk as I squirted it on the cement floor for them.
Smoky was a pretty special cat. She and Flame were around for a lot of years even though I believe they disappeared before I left for my mission. Smoky was a very good hunter and kept the mice from over-running the barn and stack yard. She gave birth to a lot of kittens. Smokey may have been one of the 27 or more cats that we had on the farm at one time. We ended up having to take many of them to the ranch. Smoky and PeeWee and their off spring were all outside pets. Mom would not allow pets in the house even though we did sneak PeeWee into the basement room several times and occasionally I would take Smoky in so she could catch some mice in the basement for me. She was so scared though that it didn't really work very well. Smoky loved to have you rub and pet her though as she sat on your lap. She would purr quite loudly at times as well while petting her.
These were all special pets and I loved them a lot. I guess that is why when Pookie was brought home I let him stay since he was the male version of PeeWee.
I had several pets or at least we did as a family. Many of them I don't remember their names but one of the earliest was a large black dog that was very protective of us. The story is told of him walking between Marsha and the hole to the septic tank that was being dug out in the field. I don't know when that dog died or why but it was probably poison that had been left by neighbors at the edge of the fence between our properties. We lost a number of dogs to that.
The three pets that I remember best were a small black female day named PeeWee, an old grey cat named Smoky, and her kitten named Flame. PeeWee was brought home as a pup and died at an old age of at least 15 or more. I was married before she died. She was a fun dog to have and didn't have pups until she was actually several years old. She had two pups that lived for some time and I don't really remember what happened to them. PeeWee used to go for long runs or adventures and one time didn't come home for several days. When she did she was walking on three legs. She had been apparently caught in a trap and finally chewed off her leg to come home. Dad took her to a vet in Roosevelt and he removed the leg to the shoulder. She was with us a lot of years after that. I still can see her climbing the hay stack with just those three legs and sitting on the top looking across the valley and watching the traffic (I Guess) on Highway 40. She could run pretty fast on those three legs and the front one that was left became very large and strong. She would stand along by the cows when I milked along with the cats and lap up milk as I squirted it on the cement floor for them.
Smoky was a pretty special cat. She and Flame were around for a lot of years even though I believe they disappeared before I left for my mission. Smoky was a very good hunter and kept the mice from over-running the barn and stack yard. She gave birth to a lot of kittens. Smokey may have been one of the 27 or more cats that we had on the farm at one time. We ended up having to take many of them to the ranch. Smoky and PeeWee and their off spring were all outside pets. Mom would not allow pets in the house even though we did sneak PeeWee into the basement room several times and occasionally I would take Smoky in so she could catch some mice in the basement for me. She was so scared though that it didn't really work very well. Smoky loved to have you rub and pet her though as she sat on your lap. She would purr quite loudly at times as well while petting her.
These were all special pets and I loved them a lot. I guess that is why when Pookie was brought home I let him stay since he was the male version of PeeWee.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Feb 12, 2011
What was your favorite toy?
I don't remember a favorite toy. I remember toy trucks that we played with in the tractor tire full of sand. And small cars that we used in it also. I had lots of fun.
Today though I think that I need to comment about something that I thought about during conference. There was a talk about changes in culture from my generation to today's. Then he said to go out and do things except maybe play computer games and facebook. Then the thought suddenly came to me that one of the culture differences are in those very games that are played by these two generations. We played "No Bears are Out Tonight" and other games outside requiring interaction with each other while today they are often playing computer games which requires communicating only with the computer. It was just a thought but as you think about it there is a lot of differences in the two cultures and these games may just be a part of the problems in the dating world of today's culture.
I don't remember a favorite toy. I remember toy trucks that we played with in the tractor tire full of sand. And small cars that we used in it also. I had lots of fun.
Today though I think that I need to comment about something that I thought about during conference. There was a talk about changes in culture from my generation to today's. Then he said to go out and do things except maybe play computer games and facebook. Then the thought suddenly came to me that one of the culture differences are in those very games that are played by these two generations. We played "No Bears are Out Tonight" and other games outside requiring interaction with each other while today they are often playing computer games which requires communicating only with the computer. It was just a thought but as you think about it there is a lot of differences in the two cultures and these games may just be a part of the problems in the dating world of today's culture.
Feb 11, 2011
What was the climate of the area where you grew up?
It was typical Utah climate. Hot in the summer, great in the fall, cold in the winter and again great in the spring. Here are a few examples. I remember going out in the winter when it would be cold and starting a fire in the small wood burning stove to get enough heat to o the chores. One particular winter however was almost too much for that little stove when it got down to -33 degrees. Not all of our winter's were that cold but just about every winter we would have to connect a welder to our water pipes going out to the barn to thaw them out so we could have water for the cows.
Then there some pretty wet springs. There were three or four years when our road leaving the farm would wash out where we drove from the canal to the top of the bench. It was pretty muddy when it would wash out. One year we even had to walk a half mile into the yard since we couldn't get into the end of the road.
I always loved the summers until we had to haul hay in the midst of the heat. I loved the heat when we got to the canal and started to swim but that was usually the only time.
Fall however was the perfect season, other than school starting again. The fall colors were always so pretty and the weather was usually so good. It was a good time of the year because the hay was all in the stack and the irrigating done for the year. there were the different fruits to can but they were always so good to have later through the year.
I grew up in a special place that will always be close to my heart.
It was typical Utah climate. Hot in the summer, great in the fall, cold in the winter and again great in the spring. Here are a few examples. I remember going out in the winter when it would be cold and starting a fire in the small wood burning stove to get enough heat to o the chores. One particular winter however was almost too much for that little stove when it got down to -33 degrees. Not all of our winter's were that cold but just about every winter we would have to connect a welder to our water pipes going out to the barn to thaw them out so we could have water for the cows.
Then there some pretty wet springs. There were three or four years when our road leaving the farm would wash out where we drove from the canal to the top of the bench. It was pretty muddy when it would wash out. One year we even had to walk a half mile into the yard since we couldn't get into the end of the road.
I always loved the summers until we had to haul hay in the midst of the heat. I loved the heat when we got to the canal and started to swim but that was usually the only time.
Fall however was the perfect season, other than school starting again. The fall colors were always so pretty and the weather was usually so good. It was a good time of the year because the hay was all in the stack and the irrigating done for the year. there were the different fruits to can but they were always so good to have later through the year.
I grew up in a special place that will always be close to my heart.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Feb 10, 2011
Who pulled your teeth when they were loose? How was it done? How much did the tooth fairy leave for a lost tooth?
This is a painful subject. Dad pulled the first teeth with a pair of pliers. I soon learned to tie a string around it and a door handle and then slam the door. Not much better but at least I had control. As far as a payment for the teeth it was a dime or if lucky a quarter. As far as one that got lost it was nothing. we kept good track of those teeth until the fairy paid up which was usually the very night we pulled the tooth.
This is a painful subject. Dad pulled the first teeth with a pair of pliers. I soon learned to tie a string around it and a door handle and then slam the door. Not much better but at least I had control. As far as a payment for the teeth it was a dime or if lucky a quarter. As far as one that got lost it was nothing. we kept good track of those teeth until the fairy paid up which was usually the very night we pulled the tooth.
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