Boyhood

When I was young I used to love catching wild animals. Not big animals like bears or mountain lions but small creatures like squirrels, snakes, salamanders, frogs, toads tadpoles and rabbits. I well remember the day that I learned a lesson never to be forgotten. I was with my parents and other relatives on a picnic up one of the canyons close to Salt Lake. The adults were soon engaged in conversation and I was scouting around for wild animals. I found a squirrel which I soon learned was not interested in being caught. I chased the squirrel around the camp site without success. The squirrel soon tired of my presence, went up a tree, and in to a hole in the tree trunk. The hole was not far up the trunk and within my reach. I then came up with an ingenious idea. I got an empty can from the garbage barrow. My plan was to pour cans of water down the hole until the squirrel came out. Back and forth I went between the mountain stream and the hole in the tree trunk. In spite of all my efforts the squirrel would not come out. Then in a state of desperation I put my arm in the hole and reached as far as possible. It was then that I learned a great lesson in life….wild animals can bite. The squirrel chomped on my fingers. I remember letting out a yell and my parents came running. I quickly withdrew my arm and ran to my mother for first aid and sympathy. I went home and the squirrel remained in the tree. Over seventy years have gone and the score remains the same. Squirrel: Won 1. Lost 0. Mel White: Won 0. Lost 1. Maybe not a total loss. I learned a life time lesson. Never reach in a hole in a tree trying to catch a squirrel. You will never forget the pain.

When I was a child infectious diseases were much more common than today. Mumps, measles, chicken pox, were common household words. When someone in the family (except the bread winner) had an infectious disease, you were all quarantined. The board of health would put a sign in your front window indicating which disease or diseases were in the home. My sister Evelyn came down with Scarlet Fever which required a six week quarantine period. Evelyn accepted her plight with great calmness. I turned out to be the problem. I whined, cried, mopped around and other wise made life miserable for my mother and sisters. I blamed Evelyn for my six week confinement to the yard.

It is always interesting to read a good bear story. When a young boy (age 6-8) I went to Yellowstone National Park with my father and several of my uncles. We stayed in a tent that had a wooden floor and a canvas tent. Fishing had been good and my dad and uncles strung the fish up to dry inside the tent. Looking back it is obvious that any intelligent person would never, yes never, string up fish inside a tent in bear country. (I exclude myself from the stupidity of the group because of my young age). During the night we were all awaken by the sound of a tent being ripped open. Looking up you could see the moon and stars shining brightly. Then pandemonium broke loose. A flashlight went on and everyone was yelling at the bear. The bear got its fish, we lost a tent, and ever since that day many years ago, I have wondered how stupid one could be to hang up fish inside a tent in bear country.

Our home was on the outskirts of Salt Lake on the Avenues. With a good friend I loved to hike in the foothills looking for snakes, rabbits, horned toads, salamanders and almost anything else that moved. We would sit on some large rocks looking down on the city. Seagulls would share our lunch with us. I enjoyed sleeping out at night under the stars. I liked watching bats appear just as it was getting dark.

Fishing was one of my loves. I’m not sure how I acquired an interest in fishing since my father could care less. I did have several uncles who loved to fish and on occasion took me with them. I fished the Jordan River with my cousin Bob who lived close by the river. We caught mostly carp, suckers and maybe trout. I would ride my bike to a stream called Spring Run, fish for the day, and ride my bike back home.

I liked to ice skate on the “duck ponds” and on a small lake in Liberty Park. Once I had ridden my bike to Liberty Park in the middle of winter. On this particular day of we were experiencing a January thaw and the ice was melting close to shore. I misjudged the distance of open water and attempted to jump from the ice to the bank. I went into the lake which was about four feet deep. I then had to ride my bicycle home when I was soaked and chilled to the bone.

Other activities I engaged in were archery, sand lot football, basketball, tennis, stamp collecting. And coin collecting. I was always active doing something. I enjoyed participating in various activities but never excelled at any of them. My eye-motor coordination just wasn’t there. Grandma use to like to play horseshoes…in fact, she was very good at it. I could never throw straight and was a menace to all around me. Later in life I had a 102 year old gentleman talk to a class I was teaching. He use to emphasize the importance of participating in many activities even though you may not excel. Through participation you learn to know and later on enjoy observing others who have excelled...