My mind seems to remember things that occurred 55 years ago much clearer then the events that transpired yesterday for some odd reason.
Duane had met this farmer who owned a house about 3 miles out of Liberal. The house was vacant and in need of repair and we needed some where to live. We agreed to clean the place and paper and paint as needed to make it livable. The farmer would pay for paint, paper and brushes and such and the deal was made. We spent the first night on the floor in the front room with all the kids. Soon we had a bed and a wash machine. Duane went to work every day and I began scrubbing in the kitchen. I papered, painted and had that room done the first week. For the first time in our marriage I actually felt like I had a home.
The reason I remember the year is because Sam was one year old and had received a blue elephant toy that had wheels and he could set on it and push himself across the floor. I recall that we also had a gravity flow floor furnace. In case you do not know what that is I will tell you. The gas fired furnace was in the basement and heat was transferred to the house by vents that opened in the middle of the front room floor, the bedroom and the bathroom. It was archaic at best, but was what this house had. I came in one day after checking the mail find Sam stranded on his elephant on the furnace vent because it was stuck and he could not put his feet on the furnace because it was too hot. Other than that incident life was pretty good in the heating area.
And the kids soon learned that they would burn their feet on the gravity floor furnace. We got chickens. We got a dog. As time progressed I finally got the inside of the house all painted and papered. The rose bush bloomed by the back door and life was good. The farmer came to visit and check out the now refurbished house. He was impressed. He brought his wife. She was impresssed. They were so impressed they presented the house as a wedding gift to their son and handed us an eviction notice. Sam was now 2 years old and we were homeless, but you know the old saying, "When God closes a door, he opens a window?"
God opened a window in Garden City, Kansas. And another window in Hutchinson, Kansas. Life went on as life will do. Duane became quite successful as a tree surgeon and an arborists. I, of course, followed my heart and ended up in Pueblo, Colorado. And after several changes of heart I am still here.
I think back on my life and have to admit to one thing....If I could live my life over, there is not a thing I would change. There is a country western song that pretty much sums it all up. This song is for Pueblo, Colorado.
