MAYBE THE FALL KILLED HIM

Blythe and I awakened after, not only our first night, but our first time.  We faced the new day..knowing.  We didnt want to leave our own Garden of Eden just yet.  We needed to bathe, and I knew there was an icy cold stream down at the bottom of the canyon just below us.   We dressed and ate a hasty breakfast between giggles.  We were in our hiking clothes and made our way down the rather steep hill to the bottom. Yes, the stream was giggling too.  Aa the ice had been broken, we undressed, took the soap and wash cloths and waded into the stream.  We went to knee deep and then..took a deep breath and knelt down until water level at shoulder high.  It took our breath away, and when I stood up, Blythe started laughing at me.  My....uhh.  was so drawn up, I looked like a new born.  "Cold water does that to men" I explained.  We worked up a suds of sorts and washed every....nook and cranny.  The towelling off felt good, and soon we were in our clothes again and decided what to do next.  "Blythe, last night I noticed the full Moon resting on top of that tall tree up on the ridge....It looked so impressive...let's hike up to the top of that ridge and find that tree.  I pointed to where it was and we bagan a search of the best way to climb up there.  There seemed to be a gulley, of sorts that started at the bottom and went on up as we could tell.  The rocky ridges on sides soul serve as a stair case of sorts.  It was rather steep.  We made our way up quite a ways and stopped to rest.  Blythe noticed a little side canyon or large gulley off to one side, and we decided to explore up that to see what we could find.  We went only about a hundred feet and ,,,,we stopped,  There on the floor of this nook was the sleletal remains of a ..person.  It was stlll clothed in rotted clothing...we went up to it and just pondered what we should do.  I examined the remains and discovered a broken femur.  "He must have fallen from the top and broken his leg in the fall"  I said.  We went through is back pack and found several tools for hewing rock..no identification papers in bag or on body.  I drew a rough map of where we were, as we would report this to authorites.  We went back to the main channel to the top and continued climbing.  When we reached the summit, we began walking to the tall tree.  It was a magnificent view of surrounding area.  We looked way down on our camp site..the tent and the car.  After awhile, we found the tree.  A magnificent old Pine that had survived the howling winds and lightning strikes.  We sat down and just contemplated all that had happened so fast.  I happened to look to the Northeast and noticed the sillhouttes of the Pines on a distant ridge; the Pines were bending over and there was dust.  ""Sorry, Blythe, the Santa Ana is coming"  The wind struck our peak with grand announcement.  Our Pine also bent over.  The canteen that we had brought and had lain on the ground took off and landed somewhere down the side.  "Let's go back to our canyon  and take shelter"  The wind was so strong, even smaller rocks were rolling along the ground.  We made it to shelter and just cowered. 
We stayed put for several hours until it calmed down.  Grit was in our mouths and in our eyes.  When we got back to camp, put our tent back up which as blown down.  We stayed there another day.  Another Full Moon and another camp fire...the wind was gone.  We talked about the body and wondered how long it had been there.  We went back up to her site and removed all of her camping equip and stored it in her car.  It was amazing, in a way, a campground, and nobody was there.  The stars were out, but diminshed by the light of the Moon.  We looked up at the Tall tree, where we had been.  The Moon was getting pretty close to being right behind it....We had a good supper by firelight and decided to turn in early for unknown reasons.....:)

CAT AND MOUSE IN THE FOREST ....

Blythe said she wanted to go back up to her campsite to "get a few things".  The fire had dwindled to glowing embers, and I watched her via her bobbing flashlight.  It was about a quarter of a mile hike up and soon..the light was not visible. She was gone way too long, and so I took my light and went to see if she was alright.  When I got to her camp site, she was no where to be seen.  I felt a tinge of alarm..called out to her in a loud voice..no reply  I did not like all of this, we had just met a few hours ago, and although we really hit it off. still did not know what she was all about. .  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a quick glimmer of light down the hill, but it immediately went out. It must have been her, but what was she up to; did she have a gun, was she crazy....better to not reveal where I was by using my light, the full Moon gave enough to see my way around.  I began edging back down the hill toward my camp site.  I heard the snap of a branch near bye and I stopped, and just listened.  I could hear the sound of my own breathing.  Another snap of a twig but from a different direction.  I started walking back down and became dis-oriented....I came upon a very large boulder, about the size of a two car garage, but only about seven feet tall.  It was granite and gave off allot of Moonlight.  I drew up close to the boulder and slowly began to walk around it.  It was not round and had some corners.  I was just about to finish my walk around it and I heard another pop, and it seemed like it came from the other side of the boulder.  I was at a place where there were edges like steps up the side.  I thought about climbing on top in order to look down to the ground.  Another louder pop and it was just around the corner.  I was breathing hard now...didn't know what she was made of.  I crept around the corner and came face to face with Blythe.  We screamed...then..realzing it was just a game, we started laughing and just flew into each other's arms.  Didn't say a thing..just one embrace as we listened to each other breathe.  Finally, I said   "You scared me half to death, what were you thinking of?"   She said  "I got lost coming down to you and looked for your light.  I kept hearing the sounds of someone walking....we are only forty miles from and six thousand feet above fifteen million people of all kinds...just one thread between us and them."  I did not know what or who was out there in all this darkness.  I drew her close to me again, and we had our first spontaneous kiss . We both knew one thing, this was meant to be. We headed back to my camp where the embers were still glowing and the wine was waiting. We found that night that we both thought alike, it was uncanny,  both of us were wondering what the night held for us. Both of us knew what we wanted, both of us were steeped in parent taught values, neither of us want her to go back to her camp site...both of thought about the large camping tent with two sleeping bags rolled out...the pressure grew until she blurted out..."Bob, I have never done it before"  I blurted out "Neither have I..we must be two of the wonders of the World"   I got a stick and poked the embers...little sparks ascended and a feeble flame or two.  We had more wine and  we sat on a log and just stared into the fire.  A song came to her and she began to sing  "What;s it all about, Alfie, is it just for the moment we live?"  Someone needed to make the first move; both too insecure, finally, she stood and said:  "Bob, I want you to see me"  Her hands went to the bottom of her sweater and she pulled it up and up over her shoulder, over her long golden hair, and there it just swung from one outstretched arm..no bra.  Her hands went to the waist band of her Jeans and she slowly pulled them down...more and more of her lithe legs came into view until her Jeans were hanging from one outstretched hand.  She just let them drop to the ground.  She then began a slow dance around the fire,  her slender arms weaving ,  such long and beautiful legs..they looked like they would never end....I told her I was going to go inside of the tent and get ready for bed.  I took all clothing off and crawled into my sleeping bag.  Soon, a naked Blythe came in and knelt beside me. She bent over me and kissed me with many kisses..warm and moist.  For some reason, I can't remember what else we did that night. All I know is we are now married and still enoy talking on the veranda in Sacramento, Caliornia....I you want to know the details, you need to wade through the many disjointed stories below.....

MY FIRST REAL KISS (1950'S) .

Now, the last few stories are 100 % true, and I have departed from me and Blythe for awhile and turn to sporadic stories from the past.  This might also be called American youth in the 50's or it might be called a very cool house party I happened into.  America was on the cusp of its prosperity.  A new sound had come on scene called rock an roll.  A new batch of rebellious movies had come out like Rebel Without a Cause or Blackboard Jungle.  A new look, a new attitude, a new breed of cars called Hot Rods..often sporting 200 hp engines.  Cute girls became chicks and seemed to be attracted to either the black leather bad boys or the jocks with many blazers sporting gold medals.  That left guys like me in a outsider position...shy, insecure, and longing for a chick of my own.  Had never kissed a girl...yet..and I was sixteen.  Allot of us were insecure, and bolstered our bravery with a  six pack of beer.  So, there we were in Rod's 40 Ford just cruising.  Word was out on a house party up on Mountain Avenue.  We cruised Mountain and we found it by all the hot rods parked and music coming from the house.  Invitations not necessery.  We didn't even knock..just went in !  There must have been thirty kids there..all of them so cool or so cute.  Some dancing, some making out in the corner.  It didnt matter, we were welcome by the hostess..not a Mother, a chick whose parents were on a week end trip.  Those were the best parties. Some drinking, but no drunks.  I found a place to hide and watch others and their chicks...just longing to be like they were.  My beer really helped....out of no where, this cutie came over and just sat on my lap.  I was terror stricken.  Trying to be funny, I put my arms around her and said "I am a flesh eating plant"   It was then that my world turned into a soft haze.  She pulled me up and danced with me..smiling all the time.  She said I was too bashful and shoudn't be.  It was a slow dance and it seemed so natural to me..all fears fled...soft hair, perfume, .(I remember, that night in May..the stars above were shining bright..)  when the song ended she said I was a good dancer and she gave to me a soft and lasting kiss....the only thing I remember after that was waking up in my bed on Saturday morning...no noise...parents still asleep.  Sun peeking in...I looked at my clothes from  the night before just tossed on the floor...was it a dream?   What was her name?   I remembered writing something down and putting the paper in my wallet.  I ran and got my wallet and feverishly looked for a paper...what was her name ?   I found a paper and all it had on it was "Kerr on Klump"  Klump was a street in the San Fernando Valley....I rushed to the phone book and looked..many Kerrs; none on Klump....Obsession is a disease..for weeks...going here and there..."Do you know a Dorothy Kerr on Klump?  No one did.  The only proof it happened were some strands of her hair on my dark sweater...which I saved in an envelope....I suffered for weeks.
Now, my wife and I are old and we nap allot.  We often talk about our lives when we were young.    I will never forget Dorothy Kerr....but, that is all it is,  a memory...Like Jimmy Durante used to close his program..."Good night, Miss Calabash, wherever you are."     Allot to say goodbye to...our youth, the way we were....the way America was......It was a very good ride...back then... 

 

HOW I INDIRECTLY CAUSED THE DEATHS OF FIVE PEPLE

Christmas Day, 1955, Los Angleles County, California...I am 16 yrs old.  It was unusually warm that day..strong desert winds.  Dad and I decided to drive up into the Mountains and take a short hike..I believe it was a Sunday.  The Angeles Crest is a dangerous, curvy road. steep bluffs on one side, steep drop off on the other.  We had gone up quite a ways and came upon some rocks on the road...loostened by the wind and fallen.  Dad wanted to stop and pitch them over the side, I discouraged him and said we could do that on the way down.  I wanted to hike.  He listened to me and we had a nice hike...sound of the Pines roaring in the wind.  On the way down, we came to the place where the rocks were on the road and a number of cars pulled off and people gazing down.  We also stopped and saw a Buick at the bottom of the canyon. Christmas presents strewn down the hill side...one body ejected, the rest in car.  Five elderly people killed on their way to spend Christmas Day with family.
The next day, I drove my own car back to the spot, and one of the family members was just looking down.  "They hit a rock and blew a tire he said."
I have carried that weight for all these years..not a huge weight..just a weight that I do not talk about...much.

THE LESS, THE MERRIER !

This is in distinction to the "More, the merrier"   MORE has been America's theme for decades.  More horsepower, bigger homes, more selections, etc.So this little ditty about Mr. More....see him now, racing along. briefcase in hand,  seeking that pot of gold, in grander land...He ignores the things just flashing bye;  family. friends, and just what he has;  He comes to his end, and just sits down....In my life long journey,  I just passed....the only things that really last.

THE WORLD OF THE LITTLE THINGS

This is paranthetical to the flow, if there be any flow !  When I was young, I began to take note of all the things around us that we seem to ignore. Yet, this world is the backround music to our busy dance.  The night pulls its curtain of darkness over us...the street lamps come on.  The night blooming jasmine awakens..it is their time to come on stage.  The Morning Glories close and await their turn.  The lonely snail is tired from its day of just ambling around and crawls under its favorite rock.  The teen ager closes his school books...homework finished.  Father and Mother yawn...the cat slinks under a bush and looks around...he loves the night.  The trees are still wet from the rain, and every little breeze shakes the leaves and causes a shower of drops to fall.  The wind chime tinkles for a moment.  The long night when our world is mostly asleep.  So much going on that we never know about.  The sick child awakens from his feverish sleep and sees the cherry red glow of the wall heater...a sort of delerium that brings with it an amplified feeling of peace and safety.  Pulling the covers up over a shivery body...it feels so very safe from all that is out there in a very strange sort of way.  The unseen World....so far apart from all that we think is important.   The East is tinged with the first hints of dawn.  The brushing of the teeth, the combing of the hair, getting dressed for our day as the rising Sun bathes the tops of the hills in orange light. Ever moving down, the light spills into the valley...the new day is underway.  The jasmine goes to sleep, the morning glory opens with a shout.  The snail comes out from under its rock and enjoys the dewy lawn.  A symphony of sorts.  The Robin finds a juicy worm while we find our way to whatever the day holds.  This unseen world pays about as much attention to us as we do to it.  But, it is there for those who want to enjoy it. 

THE SITUATION ROOM

The veranda at our home was more than a place to relax, it had become our situation room.  Tonight, we are taking stock of our lives and trying to establish a crucial item that was missing:  our direction.  We had none.  We have been moved by whim, going here and there and enjoying every one of our adventures.  Our lives have been a series of unrelated compartments.  I began to ramble:  "We are blessed with money, a lovely home, each other, but where do we want to go? "   Blythe said: "I'm not sure we need to go anywhere as far as a pre-planned direction.....both of have said we spend too much time in the past, but the past so beats the present state of affairs....we watch the news and it is a story of collective night mares,  we go shopping and it is an experience of being in about ten countries at the same time..everybody in too much of a hurry to give a smile or say hello...we can't escape the reality of the World as it now is....I love our home....our town has changed, though...........I can't think of anything other than what we have been doing..just going by whim....not every body has that priviledge."
Blythe made allot of sense; I could not deny that.  "Blythe, one of the most challenging things we ever did together was when we took the case in investigating the activities of that woman. Do you ever think you would like to find another case to figure out?"  "Not at present, dear....its not relaxing....too much spying...don't dig it too much......I'll tell you what interests me...exploring in the wilds.....using maps amd compass..back packing everything we need to survive..that is what interests me...right now.....there is something that is akin to spying I like.....getting a powerful telescope and watching things from a distance."     "Like people?"  I asked.  "Yes, that would do" she replied. I thought a minute and asked how she would like camping near the Mexican border and watching for drug traffickers.  Her only reply was,,"HUMMM"    So, the next day, we went shopping for all sorts of camping and survival gear....including a high powered rifle with a scope.  ....we had direction   (to be continiued)  Rememember stories go from bottom to top.....(Direction!!!!) 

EXPLANATION TO THE HODGE PODGE BELOW

This began as a flowing story of my life.  I did not like some of the chapters, so I deleted them.  Thus, all stories seem unrelated.  Much truth in stories and some science fiction as it envolves an extra-terrestrial being who contacted me as an older man and asked me if I would like to go back to 1952 and mentor myself as a 12 year old so I would not turn out to be the alcholic and aimless person that I was.  I jumped at the chance.  So, The stories include my living across the street from myself and becoming friends with myself and my parents.  I changed my name to Bob Key.  I was sucessful in mentoring little Bob and he bcame successful as a Doctor and also very well off.  This older Bob never married and met a woman on a camping trip and she was also single.  A beautiful woman and very impish.  She was the only child of a very successful restaurant owner and they were wealthy in their own right. Her name was Blythe.  They married and lived in Blythe's childhood home in Sacramento.  Both became disinterested in their trades and just wandered aimlessly around.  Blythe was a writer for the Sacramento Bee Paper.  They spent much time just talking on their Veranda while sipping wine.  She became fascinated with Bob's Childhood and especially his time during the Summer of 1953 when he stayed with his Grandmother and Aunt Mildred.  So, it skips around alot. Hope it does not make you dizzy. If you like puzzles, putting all these together time wise will make it much more clear.

THE BOTTLED UP CRY

I believe that many of us have a bottled up cry, a supressed weeping rooted in the soils of those we have known, loved, and miss terribly.  This goes for times too, that little boy, that little girl...walking, waking, wanting, seeing, hearing.  The parade of the elderly loved ones..growing weary, growing weaker, going away.  Where are all these people ?  People and times can't just disappear, can they ?  Yes, they can, and that is why we are jars in a pantry.  Some labeled today, last week, last year,  long ago. Life needs the bass as well as the tenor.  The flats and the sharps....plainly put, its all a melody.  Right now, just singing a sad song....,