Favorite Memories

My favorite memories-oh so hard. The first year I went to hog roast, I was 15. Mom had just started dating Jerry, and I was in love with him. It must have been 1986 and it was the 1st year that we went to Anderson Ranch Dam. This was not new territory for me as I grew up in that area and had moved cows there. Kip, Jerry's son and Shane Heyrend were with us. I told them as we got closer and closer that there was a natural hot spring really close. Well of course we just had to find it and did. We spent the night in the hot tubs (the first of many.)

My second favorite memory was 1993. That was the year that I showed up with my newborn son, he was 23 hours old when we got to hog roast. Everyone thought I was crazy. To my knowledge he is still the youngest person to ever come to hog roast.

My third favorite memory was listening to Tina Andersen sing. She would get up and preform in front of everyone. She could do Pasty Cline like no other. Man, what a voice. Of course Tina and I were great friends but I do not think I am biased about her singing.

The year that we had a band and danced out in the field was great. This is before we had a formal camp ground. The forest service guys were up there fighting fires and joined us. I do not know if I have ever had so much fun dancing, although I know some people that were drinking Yeggermister and I know they did not have a good morning after. (No, I was not one of them, but my best friend was.)

Who can forget the bears? Mamma and 3 cubs decided to visit us in camp. They were starving and managed to get into everything they could.

Nothing will ever top the year of the prostitutes and pimp. They went to trial and had to go to the road and earn $5 in quarters from passerbys. They made $60 in quarters. I do not believe that I have ever laughed so hard. Some people were scared to roll down their windows for men dressed up like hookers. Other people wanted to donate $20 bills. Traffic was all stopped up as they were soliciting out on the main road. I am certain that it will never be forgotten, and not just by hog roast people either. I am sure that some very interesting stories were told about that one.

I love the talent shows and kareoke. Of course the trials and hangings were great, especially when local law enforcement showed up to see if we were really planning on hanging someone. Someone overheard people at pine store talking about the trial and hanging. They contacted the local sherif, because they thought we were white supremacists and were really going to string someone up.
Posted by Shelly Farris