Could I be considered a member of the Damon ranch? I lived there during the years 1958 and 1959. My dad was mad because they declared me on their taxes that year.

Life was great on the Damon ranch, we would take riders out on an hour ride for $2.50 an hour! Sometimes they would go for two hours. Then we had the weekend trips of camping out under the stars and eating from the chuck wagon which was driven by Bob Ericson who ended up being a wrangler for hollywood. He rented horses to make movies. He was very much a native american, he could braid and crack a twenty foot bullwhip! He knew horses and Honey was his favorite. I always ended up with Misty, she was a large white horse who could take you back to the ranch without reins. I rode Bucky Howard's horse once, he and Audrey were the owners, we were on the oil pipeline which runs behind the ranch, we were at a dead run when the reins broke from the bridle, I had to reach down and pull him to a stop.

Times were tough on the ranch, in the winter Buck had to go back to the factory and work to make ends meet. We ate from the little store next to the house, mostly canned meat and bread.

Once in a while we would have a dance in the dancehall. I remember two girls playing the piano and someone calling out the square dances. "Now dig for the oyster dig, and dive for the clam now dive."

I thank God for the chance I had to be there, the buildings now stand silent, the roofs falling in and things on the Damon ranch will never be the same. Buck died of cancer and I am pretty sure Audrey is gone as well. There are probably a few of us left to tell the stories. I know the man who trimmed the horses' feet lives in Rose City. I know I have many fond memories of life on the Damon Ranch.