by Mel Vernon©
There are times in our lives when we look back and reflect on ourselves and see your own nature as we grow and navigate this journey of life.
As a young boy of about 7 years old I spent time growing up at my nana’s house in the San Luis Rey Valley now in Oceanside CA.
It was a time of adventure and much imagination, a rocking chair in the living room with wooden slats in the arm rest became my rocking pirate ship and a clothes brush my pistol.
My great grandfather’s house was just up a dirt road across a little field it was a big square white colored house with a screened in porch which was about 4 foot off the ground my Great Grandfather would shave and brush his teeth at the sink looking out thru the screen which overlooked the walkway and if I was unlucky enough to be walking by he would throw water from his cup on my head!! and laugh as I ran off yelling! The more I yelled the more he laughed.
You could say we had a certain type of relationship of one-sided humor There was a red barn with an open front looked like a big two car garage, I was always making stuff in there on his work bench, it had a vice, hammers, screw drivers, all within reach of my little grabbing fingers most or the things I made had a sharp point so I could throw it and have it stick into something.
My grandfather was always telling my grandmother to tell me to put the tools away when I’m done, but I don’t think I ever did I was having to much fun to stop and clean up!
One day I was riding my two wheeled bike in the barn going in and out riding around a trailer that had wood stacked on it. Coming in and out and around and around what a talent!
when I noticed some little red chilies on a stem hanging down from the plant that was tied to a line to dry, just about two feet above my head as I rode under I could look up at them as I went in and out around and around Somehow, I got the great idea that this was like being on a marry-go-round and the little red chili was the gold ring!
I would try and bite the little red chili as I rode under it. I went around and missed then I tried again and missed so the next time I stood up on my bike peddles and with my mouth open wide I bit down on that little red chili and got it!! But it really got me back! My mouth was instantly on fire!!
I couldn’t catch my breath my eyes filled with tears! I dropped my bike and started running all the way to my Nana’s house crying! like a howling coyote!
My grandmother heard me crying as I came in thru the door, she started washing my mouth out with cold water then she asked me what happened? In between the water in my mouth full and whimpering I said Totta made me eat a chilly!! It just came out of my mouth all by itself! I don’t think she believed me and if she said something I didn’t hear her my head was under the faucet.
And that was the first time and only time I can remember projecting blame to my not so innocent Great Grand Father.
But as I have grown older, I have come to learn people seem to blame others for their losses and have a hard time taken responsibility for their own mistakes. You could say this little story is burnt into my memory.
I have long since stop riding a bike, but I still stay away from little red chilies!! and I’m sorry Totta!
