by Arthur Gibson

Created on: September 06, 2008

My favorite place as a child had to be my grandparents farm. While they only lived approximately 100 miles from my parents, going to the farm was like stepping into another world. Going from my backyard to their farm was like stepping through a mirror to a land of infinite possibilities. To my young eyes and mind the farm was immense, stretching from one horizon to the next.

One of my favorite things on the farm, was an old broken down wagon that sat in the barnyard. From my perch on the wooden seat, I could live out most of my childhood fantasies. One day, I might be a Wells Fargo Agent guarding a shipment of gold or silver from Virginia City to San Francisco. A journey fraught with danger as I fought off Indians, robbers, and crossed swollen rivers, and immense deserts. Always bringing the shipment in safely. The next day might find me using the wagon as my Conestoga wagon bringing my family west from St. Louis to a ranch or homestead in Texas, Colorado, or the Dakotas. In my imagination, the wagon would even be magically transformed into a raft which I was floating down the Ohio, Mississippi, or Missouri Rivers. And I always had Davey Crockett, Tom Sawyer, or Huck Finn with me. If I had left my toy pistols at home, a long stick became my Hawkins .50 caliber or Winchester rifle.

If I wasn't playing on the old wagon, being in the fields with my grandfather and uncle filled my day. Seeing the fields of corn, oats, or barley stretching as far as I could see. Watching the changes in the crops from one visit to the next. And realizing that grandpa's work helped put food on numerous tables. I didn't even mind getting up before daylight to go to the barn and help milk the cows. Back in the city, I never would have ever thought of getting up so early; but, on the farm it was easy. Being with grandpa and maybe getting to drive the tractor, helping to slop the hogs, or helping with any of the myriad of chores that are part of farm life filled every moment. To me, it was like being in Heaven! A slice of life that I never wanted to end. It was a special treat when grandpa hitched the 2 work horses up to the old wagon and let me have the reigns as we brought something back from the fields.

There were other adventures on the farm as I got older. My uncle and I going to the family dump to get bushel baskets full of old bottles. We'd take the bottles and his .22 rifle and head to the bluff overlooking the river. It wasn't unusual for us to spend a couple of hours sitting on

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