Going home

In 1992, sometime between Christmas and New Years we all laid out blankets and sleeping bags and slept on floor. It was late when we finally went to sleep. We had spent the day cleaning and packing, the moving van had left and there was nothing left. The house was empty. That evening Kristin and I went to a little party with the young women where we said goodbye to the best friends I ever had. I left the party a little early and went to say goodbye to my friend Nicole. I was hoping to get a last glimpse of her brother-although I knew he was at away at boot camp. I once thought I was in love with him. He wrote me once after that.

The next morning we woke up early, loaded up and headed out. That was the last time I saw Cottage Grove - almost 18 years ago. Until last week. I was excited and nervous about going back again. I couldn't help hoping nothing had changed but fearing it all had. About the time we left Eugene things started to not only look familiar but feel familiar too. I was absolutely giddy. We pulled into town and there it was, for the most part, just how I remembered it. I pointed out the Round Tu It, the McDonalds with the biggest truck stop in the world (a claim I don't think I ever believed), BiMart and Pinoccios Pizza. We had to stop for a picture at all of them. I'd forgotten about Pinoccios Pizza - but there it was just as tempting as always. Funny how something I had forgotten all about could bring back such strong memories. I immediately remembered pitchers of rootbeer in frosty glasses, pepperoni pizza with those little chili sprinkles, and if we were really lucky Popyee Pizza and a game of pac man. I told Rick I wanted to go there for dinner - which never worked out.

We then went out to Dorena lake and met the Giffords. It was amazing. They all looked great. Andrea was there with her husband and kids, Ryan and his family, and Scott and his family and Milton and Janice. Scott was a little boy when we left so had definately changed the most. But they were the same old Giffords with little Giffords running around. It was really nice, I immediatley felt comfortable and right at home with them. We boated a bit. It was my kids first time tubing and they were quick converts. They loved it - so did Rick- so much he promised them we would rent a boat the next time we went to the lake. After the lake we went to Giffords house for a BBQ. They lit a fire and we roasted marshmellows and sat on the porch chatting till almost midnight. There were so many things I had forgotten that came all back, experiences, stories, jokes and powerful feelings of belonging and nostalgia. I truely felt like I had come home. The Giffords were a big part of my growing up life.

The next morning we went to church in my old ward. It was the same as I remember it. The picture of Jesus praying in Gethsemane still hung in the chapel. Margit McRenyolds was at the organ with a very familiar look on her face. Elton Hail was helping with chairs, Susan Pinster taught Relief Society. Both the Potters bore their testimony. I took the kids around the church and showed them where we used to have primary, young womens and the haunted house at Halloween time (which is now the family history library). I told them about how we used to come play basketball or ride our new bikes on Christmas morning in the gym. I showed them the kitchen where Kristin and I once made cinnimon rolls for mothers day so Mom wouldn't see us baking them. I showed them the plaque with the Eagle Scouts names engraven on it and pointed out David Hoopes.

After church we toured the town. We saw my old houses, my old schools, the stores and parks I went to. We saw the feild that used to be my high school. The pool is still there and the old mechanics shed but other than that it is soccer feilds. The new high school is huge and really really nice. My kids were a bit suprised I went to elementry school in such a ghetto looking building. It wasn't so bad 18 years ago - but it has definately gone down hill. But it still brought back those memories. When we pulled up to the school I broke out into song - complete with the actions. "H-A-double R - I -S-O-N you see. It's the best in the west, Harrison Bobcats that's us!!!" I think that is when Rick knew I had gone off the deep end. I could picture myself walking through the doors, playing wall ball on the play ground and playing in the covered area during rainy day recess.

I showed the kids where we picked blackberries, where we sold candy bars to go to outdoor school, where my old paper route was. I showed them Bonanza and told them about how giant the 10 cent cones were. I told them about Full Meal Deals at Diary queen and the little coins they gave you for your sundae. I explained to them how you needed a card to get into BiMart and how you had to write your own prices on your groceries at Mark n Save. We went out to the swinging bridge and swung on it. We ran up and down and jumped on it - then I showed them the sign that same sign that has been there since I can remember. The one that says "please don't swing on Bridge" then we swung some more. We saw the BMX track next to the weigh station where we went fishing. I told them about the slugs we found and how we liked to salt them. I showed them the river and explained how we would float down it. We went to see the old hospital where Grandpa worked. It is an abandonded building now. I pointed out where the ER was, where Grandpa's office was- I told them about his secertary Janet (I think) and the soda machine that dropped down a cup and then filled it. I showed them the buildings across the street. The one where the dr office was, and I pointed in the window where the little play area was that kids could play in while they waited for their appointment. We saw the building the Grandpa helped build that housed a bunch of conference rooms (and probably other things) I told them about the time we all went over there for fhe and sat at a conference table and wrote our Family Mission Statement. Several people told me on different occasions how the hospital went downhill as soon as Dad left. They even mentioned how Bill Wilbur stole Dad's job then ran the hospital into the ground. They have a new hospital now but it is small more like an insta care that stabalizes and transfers. They don't even deliever babies anymore.

We finished out the day at Cottage Grove lake. As soon as I saw it I could picture Mom thowing us in the water off here knee, Dad sitting on the shore blowing up the rubber raft so we could play King of the boat out near the bouys. I remebered how fun it was for Kristin and I to rock back and forth on the old truck tires and try to tip each other off. I pictured the Borg's collecting cans and had to check the bathrooms to see if those hand dryers were still there were we would sit and warm up while eating blackberry pie and ice cream. I told the kids about how Krisitn, Andrea, Elizabeth and I would go out after dark and go skinny dipping.

Since it was Sunday we didn't intend to go swimming but a walk by the lake turned into dipping our toes in, to wading, and eventually most of the kids were in up to their waist. But it was great. We skipped rocks and took pictures while the kids listened to me tell my stories and relive my childhood. We drove over to the other side of the lake and stopped on the dam so I could show the kids where I used to jump off. We went to the park where the Hospital party always was and saw the place where we hung the pinata, dug for money in the straw and drank our fill of 7up from the fountain. Cottage Grove Lake holds so of my most cherished memories.

We went the fireworks in Creswell that night and then headed out the next morning for Loon Lake. Leaving was hard a little part of me will always be there in Cottage Grove. Loon Lake and the coast also held significant memories for me. It was as beautiful as I remember it - perhaps more so.