Realizing that this Sunday is Mother’s Day, I reflected
on the influence that my mother has had on my life. If my mom had a motto while
raising me, it was “hold on loosely”. I spent my early years in Murray, Utah.
By the time I was five years old, I was outfitted with an army surplus
belt/canteen, packed a lunch and allowed to spend my days exploring the
pastures and creeks behind our house with my friends. The success of an
expedition was determined by the number of frogs, minnows or snakes that I
brought home.
When I was eleven we moved to Venice, California. It
didn’t take long before I was tying my fishing pole and tackle box on my bike
and making my weekly 5 am pilgrimage to the Venice Pier. Mom made sure that I
was active in Scouts and earned my Eagle. I was also allowed to take up scuba
diving, sail boating and riding dirt bikes. She also put up with my large
revolving collection of tropical fish, snakes, lizards and tortoises.
She arranged for me to spend several of my teenage summers
on my grandparents’ farm in Lehi, Utah. I learned how to fence, irrigate, buck
hay and drive a tractor.
I realize that my interests were not shared by my mother
but she never discouraged me from venturing out on my own and pursuing my
interests. Come to think of it, if it wasn’t for my mother’s influence I
wouldn’t have been drawn to Island Park.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my mom,
Patricia Crofts for all of her effort on my behalf. If you still have the
opportunity to tell your mom “thank You”, use Mother’s Day as an excuse to
express your gratitude.
And for those who bemoan my arrival in Island Park,
please don’t address your complaints to my mother. She already knows that I am
a pain!
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