I bet about everyone went sledding at one time or another on a car hood turned upside down and then tied to the bumper of a car or pickup and then running up and down the streets of Shidler. Those were great times and I remember getting scared to death we would fly underneath the car pulling us and hit the exhaust pipe or at a minimum of the bumper and get our heads knocked off.
Well that never happened but we did hit many a ditch and many a car parked beside the yards but I don't remember anyone ever getting hurt. I do remember Steve Chrisco and bunch of the guys (MOST LIKEY, AJ, Jim Heath, Rick Hill, Hugh Jones, Johnny Payne, Eddy Robertson, Dave Jacques, Dale Head, Rick Cottle and I actually just don't remember but these are some of the more likely ones) from the class of '71 just acting crazy and sledding all over Shidler. We would tie up one or two sleds with one being a car hood which held 2 to 5 folks and maybe more and take off down the streets. The great thing is the cops (Dotty) never bothered you and folks would just laugh and wave and occasionally invite you in for some hot chocolate or some snack. Helen Head actually was a great host and seemed to even like us when we were not in class. Secretly I think she actually liked all of our ornery behavior. I know Aunt Gladys (Mrs. Snyder) did. She would always ask for the details and in a backward sort of way encourage our behavior. One of the best parts was ultimately going to the local cafe and drinking a coke and eating one of those chicken fried steaks with white gravy and Heins 57 sauce and a giant serving of french fries. Now that was good eat'n!
Now being the sophisticated group we were I learned a lot during those outings especially when we stayed the night at the Chrisco house. Steve's folks were fun and encouraging but Steve, he was an educator. He could do just about anything. He could play basketball, football, baseball, play in the band, play a guitar, sing, attract girls. He was one of the most talented people ever and he had the quickest ability to say something funny, insulting and hilarious. But one of my memories was that Steve taught us all about gas and how it would burn. He was a scientist. You see one of those nights someone was cutting some gas if you know what I mean and Steve said, "get a lighter". Steve also smoked so there was always a lighter available and he lit one of those gas secretions! It lit up the night. Steve should have gone into education because he figured things out.
Well back to the snow and sledding. My dad grew up in Minnesota around Anoka, just north of Minneapolis, and then his later high school years in Womega, Kansas which is close to Manhatton. Dad knew all about the snow and ice skating and making snow skis and he loved playing in the snow. He made the biggest sled I ever saw and would tie it behind the pickup or tractor on a long chain and off we would go across the hills in the pastures and up and down the snow covered gravel roads. It was absolutely gorgeous outside and the cold just made it incredible. I remember coming back in with ice on our heads and clothes and snow packed all over us as the pickup or tractor would throw the snow back on us. Sometimes we would hit a bump and fly through the air and out into a snow bank. What a life! What great fun! Sometimes we would build ramps just to make us get airborne only to crash into disaster many times. The thrill of success and defeat but the memories are fantastic.
Well I better get back to studying as I have about 30 days left before the CFP exam. Ten hours of exam and I am actually loving it.
What do you learn in the Osage?
Well that never happened but we did hit many a ditch and many a car parked beside the yards but I don't remember anyone ever getting hurt. I do remember Steve Chrisco and bunch of the guys (MOST LIKEY, AJ, Jim Heath, Rick Hill, Hugh Jones, Johnny Payne, Eddy Robertson, Dave Jacques, Dale Head, Rick Cottle and I actually just don't remember but these are some of the more likely ones) from the class of '71 just acting crazy and sledding all over Shidler. We would tie up one or two sleds with one being a car hood which held 2 to 5 folks and maybe more and take off down the streets. The great thing is the cops (Dotty) never bothered you and folks would just laugh and wave and occasionally invite you in for some hot chocolate or some snack. Helen Head actually was a great host and seemed to even like us when we were not in class. Secretly I think she actually liked all of our ornery behavior. I know Aunt Gladys (Mrs. Snyder) did. She would always ask for the details and in a backward sort of way encourage our behavior. One of the best parts was ultimately going to the local cafe and drinking a coke and eating one of those chicken fried steaks with white gravy and Heins 57 sauce and a giant serving of french fries. Now that was good eat'n!
Now being the sophisticated group we were I learned a lot during those outings especially when we stayed the night at the Chrisco house. Steve's folks were fun and encouraging but Steve, he was an educator. He could do just about anything. He could play basketball, football, baseball, play in the band, play a guitar, sing, attract girls. He was one of the most talented people ever and he had the quickest ability to say something funny, insulting and hilarious. But one of my memories was that Steve taught us all about gas and how it would burn. He was a scientist. You see one of those nights someone was cutting some gas if you know what I mean and Steve said, "get a lighter". Steve also smoked so there was always a lighter available and he lit one of those gas secretions! It lit up the night. Steve should have gone into education because he figured things out.
Well back to the snow and sledding. My dad grew up in Minnesota around Anoka, just north of Minneapolis, and then his later high school years in Womega, Kansas which is close to Manhatton. Dad knew all about the snow and ice skating and making snow skis and he loved playing in the snow. He made the biggest sled I ever saw and would tie it behind the pickup or tractor on a long chain and off we would go across the hills in the pastures and up and down the snow covered gravel roads. It was absolutely gorgeous outside and the cold just made it incredible. I remember coming back in with ice on our heads and clothes and snow packed all over us as the pickup or tractor would throw the snow back on us. Sometimes we would hit a bump and fly through the air and out into a snow bank. What a life! What great fun! Sometimes we would build ramps just to make us get airborne only to crash into disaster many times. The thrill of success and defeat but the memories are fantastic.
Well I better get back to studying as I have about 30 days left before the CFP exam. Ten hours of exam and I am actually loving it.
What do you learn in the Osage?
- Snow is not to stay away from but to enjoy and dive into
- Don't throw away those car hoods, recycle
- If you light your gas it is like green energy and you can heat your house
- Everyone is a teach even if they don't know it, so be a good teacher
Thanks for your time,
gary@thepioneerman.com
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