“Human memory is a marvelous but fallacious instrument. The memories which lie within us are not carved in stone; not only do they tend to become erased as the years go by, but often they change, or even increase by incorporating extraneous features.”  Primo Levi

I’ve taken a little side trip a few hours north of Ruth Lake to the Chilcotin area of BC.  This is where my roots are . . . as my father spent his early years up in this country as a Cowboy, and later brought his family (a wife and seven kids) out from Ontario, and later California, almost every year.  I have been visiting this country since I was a baby.  The year I married my first husband, Dad bought 20 acres which became known as the Stump Ranch which is literally out in the boonies.  My kids spent many summers riding horses, swimming at the lake a mile away, chasing frogs and exploring the great outdoors.  I am standing in the original cabin that was built many years ago before my dad bought this property.  He and Mom lived in this cabin with no modern conveniences for about 5 years until he died in 1985 of lung cancer.  In that time, he built a new log house – which he never go to live in.  Mom was able to spend many summers here on her own  but cannot do that any more because of her age (she’s now 90 years old).  My youngest sister has just moved here, however.  It’s nice that it will not be so neglected anymore.  

I have many fond memories here . .  

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