[Rapier]

I grew up on a small ranch on lake Okeechobee, the big lake, in Florida. My grandfather operated a pumping station on the lake. Those pumps kept the surrounding area that was below the water level, above the water table. We lived a mile from the Pahokee airport and the airport (crop duster airfield) was a mile long, so our nearest neighbor, the airport owner, who lived at the opposite end of the airstrip was two miles away.

I got my first 22 rifle for Christmas when I was 9 and had learned how to shoot when I was 5, about the same time I started running a boat, tractor and a jeep on the place. I hunted and fished the lake by myself most of my young years.

So my fond memories come from mostly hunting, fishing, good country food (whole milk, fresh butter, bread, smoked meats) with church dinners, all night sings and seeing real country groups playing and singing. Heavy quilts in the winter over ice cold sheets. Working on the ranch is a fond memory. Wearing cowboy clothes and boots (my toes still point inwards from both sides of each foot), going to rodeos and branding.

It was a tough life at times, no indoor plumbing and no electricity, but it was directly rewarding as what you got out of life was what you yourself made of your life. We never asked for anything and never were given anything. We were poor and we were very rich, we had only what was ours, made from our own hard work and we were beholding to no man.
Ed