This story is fully illustrated with photo's to access them go to my home page and open the album Growing Up Ranch Chap 1. The story will have a bold type reference number to key it to the story.Growing Up Ranch Introduction I am Vernon Fawcett, and this is the story of my childhood, set in the Laramie Mountains of southeastern Wyoming. My childhood was quite unusual; you see I grew up "ranch" on the Squaw Peaks Angus Ran...

Have you ever noticed that abusive families stay that way generation after generation? Why? Logically this should not be. After all in an abusive relationship there are two roles, Abuser, and Victim. Obviously if an Abuser starts a new generation then the offspring will be forced to play Victim. But eventually a Victim should hook up with a Victim and the abuse should end. But it doesn't! Why? After much thought and obser...

Man it’s hot today! One of those fry an egg on the side walk August killers. No breeze either. Look that dead dog is still there in the ditch. Boy, is it bloated up now! It’s been five days. Surprised it hasn’t popped yet in this heat. Later… Sure be glad when I can get back to the warehouse and chill in the AC awhile. These deliveries are fun but that sun is scorch’in! Wish the AC worked in this van but at least I’ve got...

Yes, son. That was an Elk.Hunting season was always a big deal. We took hunters from all over, and these guided hunts were pretty much off-limits to youngsters wanting to tag-along. However, kind of late in the season, a special hunt for elk by some hunters who were more on a vacation than a serious hunt came up. We departed dark and early for the Squaw Peaks the next morning.Well, elk were pretty scarce in those days, an...

Am I a spinner of thread to weave a cloth of words?Are my words truths to share, or just my lies?Is the cloth so made an invisible cover?If my truths are lies, then what is their worth? Am I a fisherman dangling worms of words?Are my words of any use to those who read?Will my words catch that which I seek? If my words are useless why should I write? Am I some vampire fed by my word readers?Are my words building blocks?Wil...

We’re going up to the hospital to see Grandma Rae. I didn’t even know she was sick. As we step off the elevator, the smell of hospital engulfs me. I never like it but it is part of a visit. Hope she’s OK. A knock, ”Come in.” we enter and there she is. In bed, tubes everywhere, yellow with the jaundice of failing organs. Oh no! Grandma! You are never going to live, Death is already upon you! I can’t cry, maybe I mumble a f...

Yes, Here!We were not very water savvy due mostly to not being blessed with enough deep water to learn to swim. In my teenage years, this began to change through visits to swimming pools and making friends with the Layborn’s, who were passionate white water enthusiasts.I eventually bought a 17-foot aluminum canoe, and we found a favorite float trip down Wendover Canyon above Gurnsey Dam on the Platte River. Most of this t...

As a young man I was a night owl/late sleeper. Getting me up for chores and school was often difficult. One morning Mom had given up and sent Dad up to “Get him up NOW!" I slept in the top bunk of our bunk beds so Dad stood just a little above eye level to a sleepy head like me.  I was having a very vivid dream in which one of the Ford tractors wouldn't start. I looked at the battery and noticed a hairbrush stuck handle f...

Blasted AUTEC Range! D.. submarines! They're right. All we are is pond scum targets. Oh well no St. Croix visit AGAIN. Wait, we're setting sea and anchor detail? Cool! Even if we are end of pier, I'll get to see that crescent shaped beach finally. Better get below and take the watch. CSOW here I come.Our Captain had some pull so we got to have two Laser sailboats as part of our welfare and recreation deal. Not bad for a D...

Have you Ever....Walked up on a fawn so young, it just froze in place, and tried to shrink into the grass?Stood beside a raging stream in full flood, and felt the tumultuous anger?Just run as hard as you can until your body drops to the ground as you gulp for air?Stood on the deck of a ship at sea, and just marveled at the stars?Watched a cow whose calf has died, standing over the body, and watched the tears flowing down...

A Matter Of PerspectiveNext time you are being chewed out for some trivial perceived failure try offering this.This is how significant you and I are. We are about 6 feet tall. The largest mountain on Earth is Mt. Everest, about 30,000 feet tall. From the top, you could not see me without the aid of binoculars. If I were to attack the mountain with even dynamite, it would take years before I alone could make a significant...

The day dawned bright and clear with a nice steady breeze. Perfect sailing weather, just right for taking RL out for a quick sail. Car loaded, boat and mast; life jackets; rudder (double check) dagger board (double check); paddle just in case. Hit the road! Clearing the base, we head toward the lake.Enter the rec area and head toward the boat launch, wind still perfect, light but steady. We unload the boat and rig for sai...

Our horse herd was managed in three parts. We kept two small bunches in near pastures for riding, while a third bunch was allowed to roam the far pastures and was brought in only when we needed extra horses as pack horses or a working team. Brood mares also ran in this herd. Bring the riding horses in each day was the job of the wrangler, quite often one of us boys. The wrangler had to first bring in his wrangle horse whi...

I noticed the hole today. It’s been there awhile; I just finally really saw it.It’s really deep! I dropped some rocks but never heard a sound, not even clatter off the sides.It’s pitch black; sort sucks up any light that tries to penetrate. Like a Black Hole. Just a big, black, sucking, empty, with harsh, jagged edges, Hole.It looks like a sink hole, no pushed up rim. No “Hand-Of-God” strike from above, just fell away int...

The ancient gift that God gave man, the awareness of time and distance span.We stand now among a dwindling crowd, our brothers and sisters whom we disavowed.So do we care or even admit, twas only by the gift are we thus fit.Can our species' conscience bear, the dread guilt weight of death we share?Or will we run and hide in shame, fleeing in fear to avoid the blame.Pray that the Master's trust in us be right, ere daybreak...