I’ve always ascribed to the belief that who you are today, at least in part, is a result of how and where you grew up, who influenced you most and what you made of yourself in the space between. I am most intrigued by the “why” part – to glance back at the early years and correlate the way someone is and how their past helped form who they are today. The connection is usually unmistakable, if you dig deep enough, and I find it quite fascinating and enlightening – as it lends understanding to who we are as people.
Have you ever heard of Keddie? Chuck and I recently visited this small railroad settlement in Northern California near the Feather River Canyon. Named after Arthur Keddie, who surveyed the railroad that was cut through the mountains in Plumas County in the early 1900’s, this small community is alongside the former Western Pacific line, the route traveled by America’s most beautiful passenger train – the California Zephyr. Nearby is a unique and dramatic split in the railway tracks, in the shape of the letter “Y” that dominates the terrain, and overlooks the magnificent Feather River Canyon hundreds of feet below. The driving of a golden spike at the center of the Spanish Creek trestle, known today as the famous “Keddie Wye”, marked the completion of the Western Pacific railroad in 1909 and even today, one hundred years later, the Feather River Route still provides a vital transportation link as part of the transcontinental freight rail network.
My husband Chuck has always loved the mountains. Given the choice of a day trip to the beach or the mountains, he will predictably choose the latter every time and with no hesitation. Once you’ve seen where he spent his childhood years, you understand the “why” I allude to at the start of this blog. It stems back to the roots – from whence you came.
There are no words to adequately describe the awe-inspiring beauty of the surroundings where Chuck was raised during the mid-forties to late fifties. It doesn’t come alive or hold as much significance until you stand amongst the cluster of log cabins at Keddie and realize that this has to be one of the most pristine places for a youngster to grow up – at a time when the world seemed to possess more innocence.
The sun dancing through the majestic sugar pines leads your eyes to the green treetops, then on to the thickly forested mountains above and the bright blue sky in contrast beyond. You hear the sound of water and your attention turns to the Feather River as it meanders through the canyon behind the log cabins and you can’t help but imagine the laughter from children of a bygone day, rafting down the white waters in rubber tire tubes, while friends cling to the old swinging bridge high above them, spurring them on. You take a deep breath – you know it’s safe to do that here – the air is so pure and you catch the scent of pines as you wander around, your feet crunching on a thick carpet of pine needles and cones. You’re so tempted to gather some – and you wish you could, but you know you must leave them behind where they belong, with the beauty of the moment.
For more than 12 years, Chuck lived with his parents and siblings in one of the authentic log cabins nestled in the small settlement of Keddie, where his father worked for the Western Pacific Railroad. This was a booming little place in those days, with a restaurant, a general store and other amenities to support families who resided there, but now sadly is a mere skeleton of its former self and the buildings mostly uninhabited and in desperate need of repair and TLC. Save for a few cabins that showed signs of inhabitants, there was an eerie silence about the place now – like a ghost town, but we soon found the log cabin where Chuck spent his formative years.
It’s so easy to see how this life influenced him. Growing up in those days, in that environment would account for so much of who he is. For those who know him, he is comfortable in his own skin. He knows who he is and there’s no pretense about him. He is independent and self-sufficient with a strong sense of commitment and personal responsibility. He is a devoted husband and father – loyal and dependable –the type of man that gets the job done and there’s no fuss or whining. He is passionate about the mountains, has great respect for nature and the outdoors, with a real love of the wild and a special admiration for wolves. Oh and did I mention? He’s fiercely protective of the second amendment.
As I said, you can trace much back to those early years – from whence he came. His father was often gone with the railroad job and Chuck, being the eldest boy in the family, took on not only the protector role but also many of the household chores and responsibilities – amongst which was collecting logs and chopping wood – it was his job, his alone and he took great pride in doing it well and in laying in the provisions that resulted. As a teenager, he spent hours and hours in the woods, exploring every nook and cranny, mostly alone – just him and his friend – his trusty 22 caliber rifle. You can understand the independence, self-sufficiency and his respect for nature that developed from those early experiences as he roamed the canyons and woods.I knew Chuck was a Godly man, but for a while didn’t fully understand why he hadn’t been a regular church attendee, until he opened up early in our marriage and shared an experience in Keddie. Here we go again – go back to the roots. There’s a story there.
The saying goes that you can never go home, but I don’t believe that. Not only can you go home, but you should go home, if for no other reason than to connect with your roots and remember from whence you came. The truth is “from whence you came, thither you go” so it’s always fulfilling to understand the why, what, where and when of who you are isn’t it?