1960 -- It Was A Very Great Year

The sky was a cobalt blue, the sun was shining brightly, and the freshly mown alfalfa in the field next door smelled sweet. From my spot on the swing in the back yard I could see a dainty humming bird hesitate over one of mom’s especially fragrant rosebushes. It was June,1960 and the summer was stretching out ahead for what seemed like eternity. (It is truly amazing how much longer the summers lasted back then.)

Meanwhile, across the mountains, a little to the north, and over the state line, Mel was watching that summer day also. He was eleven years old that year and was thinking about getting his chores done so that he could head down to the river for some tubing, fishing and swimming. Mel paused to wipe the sweat off of his forehead as he thought that the lawn that he was cutting in the back yard seemed extra big that day.

Summer back then was an amazing thing. You didn’t spend it with a remote control in your hand or a video game splashed across the screen. You didn’t spend time texting your friends. Instead you spent your time with your friends! Running and exercising wasn’t something that you did to get fit. You were fit because you never quit playing.

In Utah Annette and company were building floats for a neighborhood parade, working on the tree hut in the big tree over the creek, or playing pioneer by pulling the red Radio Flyer to the spring where they could make soap from the scum that formed at the edges of the water. They also had fun building camp fires to get the water boiling water to make cheetah weed soup. Swimming at the Amherst swimming club was also usually part of the daily agenda. Warm summer nights were spent with the neighborhood kids playing Hide and Seek, Annie I-Over, Run Sheepy Run, Flies Up, or 500.

Mel’s summers in Wyoming were spent helping his grandpa slaughter hogs at the ranch, watching dad bring in the hay, sleeping out in the yard, raiding neighborhood gardens with his friends and swinging in the Tarzan trees down by the river. He always enjoyed playing neighborhood baseball in the back field, and was really getting into scouting that summer and was already working on his Star rank.

Favorite television shows were Howdy Doody, Captain Kangeroo, Flash Gordon, Sky King, Zorro and The Lone Ranger. Our television sets were black and white; but no one had a color T.V., so we were blissfully ignorant of what we were missing. T.V. signed off at night with the Star Spangled Banner, and signed on again about 7:00 a.m. the next day.

I was eight years old that summer, and looking forward to being baptized in just a few weeks. Mel was thinking about getting the priesthood on his next birthday. We went to Sunday School on Sunday mornings and then went back to the Church for Sacrament meeting that night. Primary was in the middle of the week, and summer Primary was the best because it was in the morning and that left us the whole rest of the day to play.

Yeah, the Summer of 1960 was just beginning, and we were both looking forward to the best summer of our lives! Times were slower then, and life, it was oh so good!

Adventures in Babysitting

Last week we had the pleasure of entertaining two very lovely young ladies for an evening. We got to tend two of our very beautiful grand daughters, Tessa and Maggie. Both girls are miracle babies because they were born so premature. Their combined birth weights were only about 4.5 pounds. They are both beautiful and sweet, but most important of all, healthy!

It was the first time that Tessa and Maggie had ever been to our home, so it was an adventure for all of us. We all (well almost all of us) had a lot of fun.

Tessa was a little upset being away from mom and dad. This picture shows her moving into her "I'm getting ready to have a temper tantrum mode"

Maggie was a sweetheart and was just happy to be there. Everything makes her smile. She's a real cutie!

Tessa cried for about five minutes and then got interested in some blocks that we were playing with. She enjoyed helping us build a nice tower until I decided to go get the camera....then she started to howl! After about 30 minutes of that she was totally exhausted and ready for some sleep in grandpa's arms.

Here's a picture of Josh, Necha and the girls. Aren't they a great family? We look forward to tending the girls again soon.

Happy Birthday Mel

Guess what? This month is Mel’s birthday. He will be 59, but who’s counting? I thought I would share a little bit about Mel for my newest blog. So sit back, get comfy and let me tell you about an amazing man.

Mel was born on March 25, 1949 in Evanston Wyoming. His parents are Melvin Joseph Davis and June Danks Davis. He has a sister Maureen and two brothers, Lawrence and William. Mel’s father and brother Lawrence are both deceased.

Mel grew up in an area that is every kid’s dream…on the banks of the Bear River. He had endless adventures “on the river” and when I picture little Melvin Joe in my mind, I can see a freckle faced, red-headed boy in blue jeans that were rolled up in wide cuffs, and either a checkered button down cotton shirt, or a horizontally stripped tee shirt…with a belt, of course, and PF Flyers on his feet.

The teenage Mel was pretty much the “who’s who” of Evanston High. He was the captain of the football team and played offensive and defensive tackle. He was the starting center for the basketball team and was president of the Letterman’s Club. He was president of the band and played a mean trumpet. He was also homecoming king his senior year. He went on to play football on scholarship at Rick’s College and West Minster College. He graduated with a B.S. degree in business.

In 1968 he married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Kay Clark. They were blessed with six great children (See Mel’s Marvelous Kids blog). After a few years of living in Salt Lake City, Mel and Marilyn moved back to Evanston where they raised their children. Mel owned a gas station and spent several years as a gas jockey. He later managed a motel. He dedicated his time and talents to Church service both in the bishopric and the high council. His favorite calling, however, involved the young men of the Church. He was active in scouting for many years and has been awarded most of the highest awards that scouting offers.

After a long illness, Marilyn passed away in 2004. Mel spent the next couple of years working out physically, managing the motel, and spending time with his kids and grandkids. He’s a wonderful grandfather and his grandchildren adore him.

Mel and I met in the spring of 2006 and got married in August of that year. I continue each day to appreciate the man that I have married. He is extremely hard working. He’s made our “little fixer” upper look like a model from the Parade of Homes. He gets along with everyone and is noted for his amazing smile. Mel is very health conscious and together we spend many hours each week at the gym. My grandsons consider him their grandpa, and he treats them as his own.

Even though I could write about him forever, I think that I will quit for now and just say “Happy birthday, Mel, with lots and lots of love.