Gas Prices Rise to $1/gallon

I said, I’m just not going to pay it. I won’t drive, but of course we lived out in Ahtanum, which was a ways into the country from the town of Yakima. Not rural as other places I’ve lived, but more farmland and orchards and bare hills. When I first saw the bare hills, I was shocked. I’d never been anywhere that was treeless. But here were hillsides that looked like a shaved animal. There was grass of course, and some small shrubs, and if there was a wet area, a small spring, then there would be some willows.

It was the late 70s. Gas went up and so did the interest rates. 12% wasn’t uncommon. Jack and I sold our house in Yakima and moved back to Spokane, our home town. Everyone said we wouldn’t sell, not now, not during a recession and high interest rates. But we had a nice little place, an acre of land, a stream, sheds and fenced pens. Perfect little place to raise a family. So we sold it right off and had three offers on the same day. I swore it was because I held the concept. I knew what I wanted and it happened.

I wish I still lived in that little house. All through my life there have been houses that I’ve regretted leaving. I’ve often wished I could be a fairy or a genie and switch my nose and levitate my house to some other town. Some town where family and friends lived. Yakima was such a closed place to live. The orchard families didn’t need new friends. They were happy with their own kind.

~ by posyflowers on March 31, 2008.