Mini-motorist

So just a quick post of random things I remember about learning to drive Juniper style…

My very first memory of “driving” is sitting on my dad’s lap steering the tractor, I might have been 3 or 4… Dad?

Secondly I remember being in kindergarten and “driving” Old Blue while Dad loaded the back… that must have been the longest it ever took to load a truck… Dad would jump down and give it some gas (I couldn't reach the pedals) then he would hop on back as I steered down the center of two rows, and then he would hop off and give it some gas… and on it went.  Looking back, we must have been picking up a few leftover bales or something, it seems ridiculous to try and do a legit load in this manner.

Finally, in 4^th grade, when it was time to learn to drive for real, Dad taught me to drive in the Chevy Luv (what a great ride) we would drive in the field and around the farm.  Haha… I remember once heading to the barn from the house, apparently I gave it a little more gas than Dad thought necessary (yup, started right at the beginning!) so he yanked the E-brake part-way down the hill and saved the day. 

Later that summer, we were in the field near Henrie’s and Dad found himself without a needed tool.  So I got sent on my first solo trip.  I don’t know that Mom was nearly as impressed as I was.  So that was it… I was a driver.  And like every 4^th grader, I was now ready to show off my new skills to passengers.  So, Kristen in tow, we set off on an adventure…

However.

I got confused regarding the gearing… I was thinking I needed to be in 4^th gear to go up the hill.

Oops.

So again, down by Henrie’s, I only made it part way up the hill before it died… frightening.  But with my superb skills we backed straight down the road.

No we didn't. 

We ended up in the sagebrush.  We were upright though, with no noticeable damage to the Luv.  Of course we had an audience… TJ, Tyler, I’m sure some of the Campbell boys, and I don’t know who else came by just in time to add to my embarrassment.  Don’t you worry though, I got the gearing all figured out and I was a pro by the time it came time for Drivers Ed the summer between 8^th and 9^th grade.

Side note: that summer I was also in 4-H… sewing was not my favorite thing.  I just wanted to be done, Dad came in as mom was trying to convince me to take my time and do a good job on my shorts (what???).  He told me that if I drove the sewing machine like that he would think that that’s how I drove his pick-up and he would have to take away my driving privileges.  Boo. :(

Mike and I took private lessons in Burley so we could get the lessons over quick and would be available to help on the farm (I think that’s why they put us in private lessons).  Anyway… the difference between the two of us and the “city folk” was striking to say the least.  I remember Mike and I looking at each other like “Is this guy for real?”  When we pulled into the gas station and the teacher wanted to know if we knew how to gas up the car.  We also heard horror stories about the other students.  Like when two separate students ran off the road into the same person’s front lawn… oopsie! 

One more driving story comes to mind, the city cousins came to visit, one who was a little older than me (I was 15) had never driven.  I thought “I’ll let you drive!”  Bad idea… I thought we were going over the hill by Crippen’s.

I didn't let her drive home.

Dad wasn't happy that I let her drive at all.

What are your best “learning to drive in Juniper stories?”  Or for you parents your best “watching kids learn to drive in Juniper stories?”

Fireworks

From Jerica:

Laura and I were reminiscing on the good 'ol days in Juniper when we remembered the story of Brock and the firework.  I'm not sure what it was but I think it was one of those bloom flower ones. Anyway, we were standing at the end of the sidewalk where the two bushes were, lighting these fireworks when one burned a hole in Brad's shorts and went up my shirt and making its own exit. It was my favorite Scooby-Doo t-shirt too. My mom just found out about that story last night and the look on her face let us know she wasn't too thrilled about it happening, but just laughed it off anyway.

Thanks Jerica.  I remember lighting one of Kristen's night shirts on fire with one of those party poppers.  And, if I know Brock and the rest of the Juniper boys, there are plenty more "fireworks" stories to be shared. ;)

Little Things with a Great Impact

                                                   

Jami and Dad

From Juel:

Sorry if this one is preachy, but it needs recorded somewhere, so I guess this is a good a place as any. 

Kammy was sick and needed some medicine from Tremonton one morning.  So, before daylight Jami and I headed out in the van.  We made it as far as the rest area and the van started giving us troubles.  Let’s see, Jami was only _?_ years old at the time.  We did manage to get the van to the other side of the freeway (headed home side) before it died completely.  Upon discussing our options (If I remember right it was cold outside), we decided this would be a good time to pray, we needed help!  Well, we prayed.  I knew the next car by would stop.  Not faith.  Knowledge.  Just knew it.  I think I told Jami, but not 100% for certain that the next car by would stop. Anyway, we prayed and as we were praying a truck went whizzing by about 55 mph rocking the van, my heart just dropped.  As we ended our prayer and I looked up, there was a Cadillac backing up towards us. When it passed, I have no idea, but it was a female trucker on her day off, smoking a stogie, who was open to revelation from our Father in Heaven.  And she gave us the much needed lift back home.  The Lord truly does watch after his sparrows.

Jami’s Recollections:

I don’t remember it being cold, but I do remember it was overcast (not sure if it was rainy or cold or just stinking early!).  It was a Monday morning, and we were headed to Tremonton for some much needed de-lice-ing supplies… so yes, Kammy was sick, sick of kids passing lice back and forth, sick of combing through 3 wiggly little girls’ long hair with a tiny comb, sick of endless (more than usual) piles of laundry, sick of bagging up belongings… you get the idea. 

I remember the van breaking down (seems like that was not too unusual at this time).  But we needed help for sure!  I did not want to hoof it back home!  Dad did not tell me he knew the next car would stop until after the ordeal was over.  The gal was very nice and offered to take us all the way home, but weather was such that we just had her stop on the interstate and drop us off next to the dirt road that led to the barn, we hopped out, climbed the fence and walked back to the house… don’t remember what we did, but somehow we got the supplies we needed and eventually got rid of the crazy lice.  And I did learn much about the power of prayer through this experience and also how good people are.  There are good people of every race and religion and the Lord is able to work miracles through these good people.  And I must have been about 11 or 12 Dad.

A funny little side story (at least I think so) from Jami:

                      Kristen and Jami

Haha... I remember during this whole lice ordeal mom asking if she could cut my hair.  What was she crazy?!?  No she couldn't cut my hair.  So being the amazing mom she is, she patiently combed through my thick long hair with that insanely fine toothed comb day after day.  Several weeks later Kristen and I were rolling bales in what felt like 200 degree weather, during the day we decided we would need to cut our hair if we were to continue our Summer employment.  My mom was gone, so we called Diana to see if she would cut our hair for us.  She agreed and the hair that went to my mid-back was cut to just below the chin. When I got home my mom was so upset with me.  It's my hair!!!  I always thought she was upset that I cut off my beautiful long hair, it wasn't until years later we were discussing it that I realized she was upset because she spent all that time saving my hair from the lice and then I showed my thanks by chopping it off.  Oops!  Sorry mom!  

You can take the girl out of the country...

From Juel:

Wish I could write as Jami does, but guess you’re stuck with my style.  Right now my thoughts turn to each of those whom I have had the privilege of working with.  I truly did enjoy my time working with each of you and have many special memories that are near and dear to my heart.  There was a lot of hard manual labor done and with each of you the tasks became almost fun.

 I think we’ve all split our pants out and had to work through it.  Two I particularly remember, one was Jami, at the beginning of a hot hay hauling day and the second Crystal in the same situation.  I just remember that they both got lots of hay down their pants on those days, but neither shirked from their duties, embarrassed as they may have been.  When it had to be done they just did it.

Becky and Esther were two of the absolute best pipe movers.  They were kinda short and the barley kinda tall.  But that did not faze them one bit, even when they had to carry the pipe over their heads.  

Sara & Beth, many memories of them feeding in adverse weather; but with their great attitudes, they took a lot of crap in fun and never failed to give it right back with interest.

All of Ross's girls took their turn feeding calves, and I think they all drove truck for us at one time or another.

If any of you men or children want to know what made your wife or mother the wonderful strong devoted person they are.  The answer in large part is growing up in Juniper.  They always had it in them; they just got to exercise it.  And find out exactly what they were made of in a little patch of hallowed paradise we like to call Juniper.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FYI, for anybody who has not had the privilege of splitting out their pants, it is not the hay going down your pants that is the problem... just sayin.  

P.S. I swear I split my pants out every day for a week that summer... good times.