Lake Tapps Home

As one might imagine, a number of activities took place during the years we lived there. We tried to raise a number of rabbits for food. (But because Tammy named each one; it was too difficult to bring ourselves to slaughter them for food and we ended up releasing them into the surrounding forest.

There was the time Tammy and Mom were driving home from Derringer Elementary school along the Stuck River. (Mom worked in the lunchroom while Reed and Tammy attended there.) As Mom drove, there appeared a black bear loping alongside their road. As they approached the bear slowing the car appropriately; the bear began to run faster; staying ahead to the right of their car; aside the road. At this, both Mom and Tammy began to announce their alarm with loud continuous hollering. Neither pronounced any words amidst their nonstop yowl. They were each struck by the sight of the bear along the road they daily drove. Furthermore, they were alarmed that the bear seemed to misunderstand the rule to avoid all contact with humans.  As they eventually came alongside the running bear, their fright found relief as the bear suddenly ran into the forest from the road. They each looked at each other; and though still shocked at the shared experience; found laughter at their combined yowl to somehow deter bear/human interaction. Minutes later upon arriving home; Mom called the local Fish and Game notifying them of the sighting a few miles down our canyon. The officer related such an occurrence was not entirely unique; and stated that ‘they’d get someone out there to shew the carnivore up the mountain’. To this, Mom exclaimed: “We live up there!”

There was another occasion that suggests the frequent events of our life at Lake Tapps. Because water was supplied by a nearby well; and because that well – with accompanying pump – was located approximately 50 feet beyond our yard into the dense forest; we boys would occasionally be required to visit the cement block pumphouse to ‘prime’ the pump. Such a task was not difficult inasmuch as a button was provided on the pump whereby the attendant need merely hold the button down until the pump ceased to draw air and resumed pumping water. The endeavor was a nuisance; yet nevertheless necessary. On one occasion; we were all warmly enjoying a winter evening within the heat of the living room fireplace. Apparently the well had ‘lost its prime’ earlier in the evening and Mom chose me as the needed pump ‘primer’. As I strode through the empty dining room, Mom stopped me and announced that I should ‘prime the pump’. Being reluctant to brave the cold and deep dark along the overgrown trail to the ‘pump house’; I groused slightly about not wanting to perform the task. With that brief protest, Mom stopped me in my tracks and pointed her finger at me (inches from my nose; one must remember that by this time I was a burly 6’2” young man; and mom was a diminutive 5’9” woman) With her finger pointed at my nose; she growled, “Listen! I’ve got a duplicate of you; and in this dense, dark forest they’ll never miss nor find you! With that thinly veiled threat I donned my coat and set out along the path (apparently amidst bear infested forest) to prime the pump. Upon returning safely to the house, I pondered my mother’s warning and my need to be able to run faster than Jay.

I always enjoyed the wisdom and jocularity of my mother. On one such occasion, I was sitting aside her on our sofa with another sibling sitting at my other side. Inasmuch as we were somewhat engrossed in watching the TV opposite us; I took no notice of those I sat next to. Mom was involved in darning someone’s sock and I thought nothing of the activity. Rather, I simply surmised that Mom was keeping her hands busy as she often did. Unbeknownst to me; Mom cleverly, imperceptibly allowed her left sewing hand to lower to her leg; which rested an inch or so from my Levi clad leg. With a sudden stabbing motion; she sunk the sharp needle into my thigh! Silently, calmly acknowledging my pain induced start; she looked to her left at me as I jumped at the jab! Her look of incredulity surprised me inasmuch as we both knew what had just taken place. Though stunned by the unwarranted puncture and dumbfounded by her exploitation; I reacted with: “What was that for?” She feigned innocence and queried what I meant. Though all in the room had seen me jump; none knew the reason why? The event rapidly faded into the ambiance. Relishing at having ‘gotten away with something”; I again asked my mother (more quietly) what the jab was for – hoping to discern a cause for the punishment. To this, she simply leaned near and whispered (in response to my query of “What was that for?) her answer: “For a little while!”

My dear mother had observed my contentment and invoked an arousal that only she and I knew about. I suppose my incessant teasing had taken its toll and she’d lain in wait to exploit an opportunity to exact her revenge.