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Reunion letter—Memorial Day 1990
The twelfth annual L. A. Iverson reunion was a
rousing success! Well if not rousing, at lest very well attended.
Some early birds arrived at the ranch Friday
afternoon, but the main body of troops came roaring in at all hours
Saturday morning.
Somewhere in the vicinity of noon we had our family
potluck dinner, which consisted of most of the old standbys—such as
Mary’s scones, Boyd’s beans and lots of other goodies.
After
dinner a number of other activities began. The treasure hunt Mary puts on
was enjoyed by the kids again this year. There were also art contests for
the kiddies, which were won by Holly Iverson and Kelli Hawkinson. Holly
also won the candy-corn count. She
was really on a roll! At the same time there were some people playing
softball, horseshoes, golf (?), and other stuff I didn’t even know
about.
It really was a tough go to get the program
performers started this year. I mean Garn didn’t bring his banjo, Max
didn’t bring his harmonica, Hal forgot to bring his poem, and of all
thing Barb didn’t bring her train whistle—so they could do Wabash
Cannonball! After such dereliction of duty on their part this time, we
will certainly be expecting and looking forward to great things next year!
The only scheduled performance was Garn (with a borrowed guitar) along
with Nita and Hal doing the theme song.
We did
come across some entertainers though. Pamela’s fiancé Alan played and
sang for us. (He was good; you can marry him Pamela!)
Dick played and Cheri sang, along with their daughter Jencia. They
were all very good. Amber, Jencia’s younger sister told me she could
sing better, so maybe we are growing a real crop of talent there. Now that
we know we will call on all of these singers in the future.
Some of the younger set put on an impromptu skit. I
believe they were doing a typical day on the A-Z forty years ago. I
couldn’t heard too well, But Brett Wells (Shamane’s husband) was
portraying Dad (Grandpa) working his favorite little span of mules, Red
and Spike, and he Brett couldn’t remember their names (the mules that
is) which I found quite amusing. All in the entire whole group did a good
job and their efforts were much appreciated!
Yula,
Burl and their two youngest daughters, Connie (Meb’s daughter) and her
husband stopped by while the program was going on, so we talked Yula into
doing a cowboy poem for us. She both writes “em and tells “em, but Meb
wrote the one she did that day. Thanks Suddey.
The afternoon really seemed to whizz by with all the festivities
going on.
That
very same afternoon we had two crises at the outhouse. (Hal usually tells
the outhouse stories, but I’ll do the best I can.) I don’t remember
which happened first, but think it was the one when Lisa Hawkinson go
locked in. Now everyone except California city girls, know that when you
get locked in you are supposed to take a stick, or some such object, put
it through the crack between the door and the doorjam, flip the outside
latch up to a vertical position, then quickly open the door before the
latch can fall back to a horizontal position—there by making your
escape. I thought this had all been explained to Lisa back in “87 when
she got locked in. At that time she claimed she wasn’t tall enough to
reach the latch, even with a stick! I don’t know what her excuse is this
time, however her solution both times was the same. Scream bloody murder!
It just so happened that Amber Maxwell was on the
trail to the “house” and heard these hair—raising screams. She
quickly ran back to the house and dialed 911, (or maybe she just told
Uncle Garn) anyway Lisa was very shortly rescued. Amber later received an
award of a T-shirt for being a heroine!
Now,
for the second crisis at that little house out back. One of Ramona’s
daughters told Merna and me that there was a snake in there! So we began
an investigation—sure enough there was one. Before we could find a
weapon to do battle with it though, it had crawled out of sight; also by
this time we had drawn quite a crowd with all the commotion going on.
While some of the older ones wanted to smoke (or choke) it out with
gasoline, the younger group went for a more direct approach. So with Kurt
on one side and someone else on the other they lifted it up and tipped it
forward. Sure enough, there was Mr. Rattlesnake! Brad had a shovel with
which he partially pinned it down. Jamie then attacked from the rear
flank and got it in a strangle hold; or maybe it was in a half-nelson.
About
this time my nerves had had about all they could handle, so I headed for
the safety and sanity of the ranch house.
I was
later told that the snake was immediately found guilty of trespassing-a
capital offense- and given a fast and merciful execution! No appeals were
granted. They buried the head (also hear say) and don't know what they did
with the carcass. Maybe they hung it on the fence to make it rain!
Didn’t us mature folks used to say that would do the trick when we were
kids? I really wouldn’t want to say for sure—but it did rain on
Monday!
Paula was the last person in that little house before
the snake was discovered. She has a couple of interesting comments to make
about it, however I'm not going to quote her here, as I might want to stay
at her house again sometime!
By the
time this entire hullabaloo was all over it was getting on toward
suppertime. Harley had brought a couple of boxes of hamburger patties, so
we cooked them up and had a fine meal, topped off with cake and ice cream.
Earlier
in the afternoon Harley had taken some helpers down to the corral to
gather wood for a bonfire. He said Matthew Hawkinson was his best his
helper (for which Matt was later awarded a Tee-shirt) The bonfire was
great—almost as big as the one last year, and this time we didn’t have
nearly so much wind to contend with. There was lots of picture taking,
marshmallow roasting, visiting, and such until the fire was only embers,
and all you could see staring into them, were memories of by-gone days.
Some
people went to town for the night. Some stayed out and slept in the house,
campers, vans, and others just roughed it on the ground, Coal Maxwell and
his friend camped out down by the corral.
B. J., Steve, and Matt Hawkinson camped out in the east yard; they
had a small campfire not far from their tent. Steve was sitting by it when
I went to bed—and sitting by it when I got up at 5:30AM. He did say that
he hadn’t really sat there all night, he was just an early riser.
Carrie,
Lisa, and Kelli all slept in the house, and giggled half the night. My
cousins and me used to do the same thing so I didn’t yell at them very
loud. Kelsey and Paige were also sleeping in the house—and they just
ignored the whole thing. Either out of grownup lady like disgust, or just
plain exhaustion—I know not which!
Sunday:
Mary cooked up her version of ham and egg macmuffins—for a whole bunch
of kids. Barb and Nita cooked up ham, bacon, eggs, and pancakes, so a
hearty meal was enjoyed by all.
After breakfast there was a memorial service at Daddy
Noaks’ graveside; as a tribute and remembrance to those we love, who are
no longer with us here.
Garn
told us what he knew about the circumstances of Daddy Noaks’ death and
why he was buried on our ranch. Several years ago while in northern Utah,
Harley visited with Mrs. Layton (age 93) who had taught school a Little
Tank when I was in sixth grade there.
Years before that she had been married to Billy
Brink, who was foreman of the Walking X Ranch, which is now our ranch the
A-Z. Daddy Noaks lived and
worked at the Walking X, and when he was killed in an accident hauling
lumber off Mt. Trumbull, he had nothing decent to be buried in. Her
husband Billy happened to have a new pair of Levis and a shirt, which he
donated to the cause. And they buried him in the southwest corner of the
home section. Billy later drown in the Colorado River. Just a little
history lesson there folks.
After
the service there were a few A-Z hats and T-shirts (that Harley had had
made up) given out to “worthy” people! If you didn’t get one---well
what can I say?
Now it
is getting on past noon, and quite a group are planning a trip to the
Grand Canyon, after a bit of the usual milling around, we are all set and
off we go. It was quite a caravan. Garn took two outfits, Tris one, Ron
Lundquist one, and also Scott Dyer, and I can’t remember who else.
On the
way over Lee pointed out where the “real old timers” used to live. He
also told us where Mt. Trumbull Civic Center used to be, and just where
up-town ended and suburbia began. It is good to know these things!
The
Canyon was spectacular as always. And as usual parent and grandparents
were a bit nervous about careless children getting to close to the edge.
It is such a loooooong way to the bottom! It was quite hot over there so
we didn’t stay more than and hour or so. It was cool green and lovely at
Nixon Spring though, where we
stopped coming and going to replenish our water supply. We arrived back at
the ranch at about 5 PM, all starving of course—so it was back to the
grub box.
Unfortunately
Jenica Maxwell had fallen off the teeter-totter (seesaw) while we were
gone and had to be taken to town. She had a broken collarbone, but is
doing fine now.
Most
everyone went to town Sunday night. A few exceptions were Jamie and some
of his kids, Brad, Chris, Ducky, Mike and Debbie who stayed over until
Monday. Max and Nita are usually the last ones to leave, but Nita came
down with the flu so they went home Sunday afternoon. That was the real
pits—but hear she is much better now.
It was
very nice to have Ramona and Stella’s families down from Idaho this
year, and do hope they can come again next time. It was nice also to
finally meet Stella’s husband Randy. (You did good Stella!)
This
year was the biggest turn out we have ever had. Saturday afternoon there
were 97 people there-14 of them were guests. To the best of my counting
ability we have 93 potential reunion members-83 of them were there. We are
doing good group, real good!
While
Garn was giving me an efficiency lesson; somehow we got on potential
members coming to the reunion—and I was naming the ones not there. When
I got to Arnie, Garn laughed and said, “Now do you really consider Arn a
potential”? I do admit that
I had to chuckle a bit at that also; but listen to this Garn: when Kurt
and Paula came to town Saturday night Arn asked to see the video they had
taken at the reunion. Now is
that progress or what? By the year 2000 you just never know what could
happen.
Much
thanks to Tina for the fine job she did with the pictures an album. She is
now our official reunion photographer and caretaker of the album and
journal. (That’s what you get for doing such a good job. We missed Kevin
this year, had you been skiing again Kev?)
Next
year it is Garn and Boyd’s turn to hold the reins, so it is bound to be
a rip-roaring good time! I hope you all start planning right now to be
there. Did you take heed to that Lee and Marge? We will forgive Lee Alan
if he is still in South America, but you can bring Steve and still have
75% attendance.
Thanks
to all of those who took part in the program, and Memorial Service and
also to all of those who just showed up! Thanks to Shauna for lovely
flowers. Harley and I appreciate you all for helping to make this year a
fun reunion.
I’m including a family and reunion list. Sure hope
I have it correct-if not I’ll try harder next time
See you next year, love Carla
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