Hueco Tanks July 1959 Thirty miles northeast of the city of El Paso, Texas, there is a small area that is nestled inside the vertical rock walls of the Hueco Mountains, called Hueco Tanks. It is a small oasis in the middle of the desert, and it derives its name from the Spanish word, “Hueco”, [...]

Goose Fever January 1959 My hunting experience preceded my enrollment in elementary school. I eagerly followed my dad, whenever I had the chance to go hunting with him. I spent thousands of hours trying to stay warm, while huddled in make-shift duck blinds. I was used as a retriever and an observer, and I became [...]

The Witch is Out January 1948 Because of the sudden and dramatic changes of West Texas weather, many of the local forecasts were made from reading the Farmer’s Almanac, watching the peculiar behavior of domestic animals, and by knowing the amount of rheumatic pain in my grandma’s knees. These were accepted methods that were used [...]

The Day the Rains Came            April 1957            There were two major droughts in the United States during the Twentieth Century. The great drought of the 1930’s was often referred to as the “Dust Bowl Days” during the Great Depression.  The drought of the 1950’s began when I was 11 years old, and it lasted until a month before [...]

Mickey and Me June 1945 The most exciting events of my short life had been my birthday, Christmas, and when the tooth fairy came and put a dime under my pillow, in exchange for one of my baby teeth. I never remember having a birthday party, but my family seemed to always know when my [...]