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The summer had inhaled
And held its breath too long.
The winter looked the same,
As if it had never gone…
It isn’t often that you search on the web and find nothing about what you are looking for. But if you look for this place, Summerhill in California - that is exactly what you find, nothing. And so I write, in memory of days long gone by.
Just south of Caspar, there was a place I have never forgotten. An old farm house, barn and apple trees in the front. A kind of guest house and many other “houses” out and about - an A-frame in the woods where Kathy lived, a round dug out that flooded when almost finished, another close by the chickens where Heidi and Ron lived.
I remember my friend Kathy (Cathy?), Julie with the beautiful embroidery on her pants that wound up featured in a book, Rooster who turned me on to Firesign Theater, gentle Gordon, Earl who taught me to make a fire, Heidi with flame red hair in the sun, and Jim. I remember you all and more. Even the ones who names escape me at the moment.
There were also visitors who remain in my memory. The guys from Caspar that made incredible pipes - each one a work of art. Kiwi from Australia. The people with the beautiful children that I drew a picture of and gave the mother as a gift. Friends from a close by commune.
I remember when the goat had babies and fresh milk from the cow, big dinners with everyone gathered together, when the guys went to chop wood and when we all went to Caspar to the abandoned house for left behind treasures, going into Ft Bragg when the money came in. Making a big fire for the sauna, close by the old footed tubs. lol and the all night tidal wave party.
Then there was the time we all piled in the bus and went to a party - when we stopped on the way back some of the guys fell off a ridge in the dark while taking a “pit stop.” lolol
And going down to Mendocino - the sound of distant bagpipes playing in the fog. There was a place where we got ice-cream and what a treat it was.
I remember a field where I liked to walk. And the road that led down to the sea. I went often to gather shells and enjoy the solitude.
There was an art class I liked and the survival one too. I still remember the walk through the woods and being shown where to find shelter and how to make an arrowhead and how to find good water. And a history class that I wish I had gone to more.
And I remember when the teachers left and how that changed everything. And how much you were missed, even if you didn’t know it. We needed you.
I left not long after, only coming back once for a visit. Summerhill is forever etched in my memory and all who I loved and lived and laughed with.
Yes, I can see it very well…
So, this is for you, Summerhill. Thank you.
I still have my lamp from the house in
Caspar….we went with Earl.
Glad you are well and that the school was there for you.
Post again sometime and I will reply. Help me remember you….
Comment by I was there too — August 3, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
I remember the house in Caspar and it was Earl - thank you! I got a little dog statue. Sadly it was lost over the years.
lol, did you go to the party that night when we stopped coming back and the guys fell off the cliff in the dark?
And going in to Ft. Bragg when the checks came in for breakfast. (and have real cigs! not rolled ones)
We would trade off cooking - I made fried chicken. And I think some not so great mac and cheese, lol.
I lived for a time in the little house - Jim lived there as well. Heidi and Ron too. Georgia lived downstairs and Rooster lived upstairs in the main house. Cathy and Steve lived in the A-frame.
I would love to hear from you!
Comment by Vicki — August 4, 2008 @ 12:06 am
I was there when the guys fell off the cliff, but I remember Jimmy missing the turn north of Big River one night and shooting off into a field…..lucky it was a cliff!
I have wandered through my brain and thought I could remember all the kids who were there in 70/71 (I have 22 so far). But I cannot come up with Vicki. Did you use a different name back then?
Comment by I was there too — August 4, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
no, I was just Vicki
Around that time some folks called me Gypsy but I can’t remember if at Summerhill or not.
I was 16 and had long dark hair parted down the middle. lol, I had little bells on my shoes. I had a dog named Flim Flam. But he got to running with some other dogs and a neighbor who had livestock complained so I had to find him a new home.
Kathy and I were friends and hung out a lot. She had a friend who lived in Caspar and we used to go in to take baths, lol. (remember bath day?)
There was a time when they were “interviewing” for new teachers - one lady and daughter we voted no on. There was another, named Patty and I liked her. She was going to teach art.
At that time they had started to make over the attic in the guest house and Patty lived there.
Julie left shortly after that. Can’t remember what happened to Steve.
There was a guy who had a Weimaraner dog and when he left for home at Christmas, I moved into his room. He came back for a short time and then left for good. I can’t remember his name though.
I did come back to visit once - briefly. Jim was still there. But many by then had left. Kathy was from Hayward and when she left we wrote a time or 2. But those times were ever changing and we lost contact.
Ya know it’s hard trying to describe yourself from back then. Ok, so no fair - who are you? Someone I have mentioned? Male or female?
Comment by Vicki — August 4, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
If you would like to write - you can email me at jelleyjar at aol.com
Vicki
Comment by Vicki — August 8, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
I wanted to thank you for taking the time to say hello. It’s good to know that there is someone else out there who remembers.
I wish you well,
Vicki
Comment by Vicki — August 14, 2008 @ 3:04 pm