Blog Day 6

Today's nudge:  Write about your hometown, your roots, or where you come from.

I was born in Garberville, CA but when my mother died my father had 6 children (the 7th child already out on her own) to raise by himself.  He moved us down to the San Francisco bay area, Martinez actually, and joined the IBEW electrical union where he made good money, and that's where my roots are.  So many great childhood memories were had there.  When the youngest 4 kids were kids, my dad hired a daytime nanny/housekeeper to make sure we were not alone during the day.  She would make dinner, and when dad got home, we all sat down to eat, then he would take her home.  On the weekends, after working a long week, my dad would come home, pack up the 4 of us, and take us camping.  We'd go someplace a few hours away, drive off road (my dad hated being around other campers, and hated even more being in campgrounds) to find some out-of-the-way spot just for
us.  We would sleep under the stars in our canvas sleeping bags, giggling, telling ghost stories, making smores, fishing, exploring.  He'd pack us up and we'd go home Sunday, where he'd make us dinner, get the laundry on, and make us all take baths preparing for the next week ahead.  If it was during the summer, we didn't have to get ready for school, but during school time, it was to bed by 9 p.m.  No television on weeknights, no phone calls other than important ones, no being any place where he didn't know where we were.  If it was a weekend we didn't go camping, on Sundays we would go to San Francisco to either the beach (looking for rocks as my dad was a rock hound), or the zoo, or Playland By the Beach, the best ever amusement park on San Francisco's ocean beach.  What wonderful memories, Laughing Sal, the Fun House, the roller coaster, the hot dogs!  Oh, my.

Back in those days, in the 60's, life was so much different.  We could play outside until after dark and not worry.  We could keep our front doors unlocked and our windows open and not have to worry about anyone coming around.  We were so much freer then, doing things we wouldn't let our children even think about doing these days.  We were not rich, but we were not poor.  We didn't have a lot of toys; back in those days you made your own fun.  You rode your bike or your skateboard or scooter, you played baseball, tag, or hide and seek.  You built dirt forts, went swimming and explored the whole town.  There wasn't anybody you didn't know.

My father raised us to "treat people the way you want to be treated".  You treated everyone with respect, when you went visiting you sat still until you were spoken to, you did not ask for anything, but were allowed to take it if it was offered.  You never smart mouthed anyone, and got backhanded if you did.  You were spanked if you commented under your breath.  With me being the only girl, my father was very old fashioned.  In high school, I was not allowed to take drivers education (girls don't need to know how to drive, boys yet, girls no).  No makeup, no nylons, no going anywhere after school but straight home and do your homework.  No television on weeknights and to bed at 9 p.m.  I think I went to one junior high school dance, and no high school dances.  But you know what?  I would not change a thing about how I was raised.  I have respect for others, I have morals, principals and values, which seem to be lacking in many people these days.  I usually think of the other person first before myself, and make sure everyone has fun and is treated correctly. 

My family comes first and foremost, they are who have supported me my whole life, been there when I needed assistance, needed advice, needed a loan, needed work on my broken down car, needed help moving.  Family is the life blood of my every day existence, something that I hope I will never have to live without.  Family is who makes me what I am today, and I am very proud of that.

I have lived in Ukiah, CA for the past 6 months, and even though it is beginning to feel a bit like home, it will never be home like Martinez.