Tales of the Klamath River by Anne Wilson Schaef

Author:Anne Wilson Schaef [Schaef, Anne Wilson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781532050558
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2018-11-11T05:00:00+00:00

A Skunk in Camp

As I said, the sun always took its time getting to our camp. Although we were situated in a small clearing, this clear space was surrounded by towering trees that circled us with great majesty and protection. These trees protected us from things we didn’t want, like intruders and such, and they also protected us from that which we did want, like the sun. In spite of this “protection” and the cool darkness that infused the camp until the sun was high in the sky, we always rose early. There was so much to do. One day we ate a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, bacon, pancakes and of course, coffee for the adults. Even the meals were fun – eating in a group like that with everyone joking and telling stories. I loved it. What a treat for a five-year-old to be in on all of this!

After breakfast, the men went off to the sluice box to “mine” for gold and Mother and I then had the day to ourselves with only lunch and dinner responsibilities. This day, by the time the breakfast clean up was done, the sun was filtering through the trees with rays of magic light spattering the clearing. I loved those rays! When those rays of rainbow light came filtering through and dispelling the morning mists, I was sure that they brought enchantment and magic with them. They played like visual music. The wood sounds and the river were their accompaniment as the trees swayed and groaned and crashed, creating new configurations of swaying light and adding dance and movement to the symphony being conducted in our little clearing. No laziness or temptation to stay in my warm bed could have seduced me. Every day’s show, every day’s symphony was different. I wanted to be there to participate and enjoy.

When the first rays arrived this day, Mother determined that it was the right day to do a wash. Her decision was also aided by the fact that “the men” and I had no clean clothes left. This was because the men and I did the really dirty work. They worked on the sluice box all day which was wet and dirty and I participated in almost everything that went on. Some days I worked on the sluice box too or I panned for gold in the stream near the sluice box, contributing my miniscule nuggets and gold dust to the pot to be taken to town and cashed in. I also helped gather wood and spent endless hours exploring the woods and trails – dirty work at best.

I helped Mother gather wood, build up the fire and do the wash. By the time we finished, it was time to take lunch to the men and we “picnicked” by the sluice box and stream. What a glorious time it was, full of stories and teasing. As Mother and I headed back to camp, the weather was beginning to change and the mists were starting to roll in.

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