I hope everyone enjoyed a fun filled, joyous, scrumptious and safe time celebrating our wonderful country’s Independence Day.

July 4th holds a special place in my heart. It’s the day my Grandad (Richard Sarah) was born in 1914. He would have been 103 tomorrow. We always had a big family gathering to celebrate the 4th and his birthday. Grandad was the ranch manager for what was then Fountain Valley School for Boys. We had the party at their house on campus so that when all of the fireworks were over, he could scout the fields to make sure nothing was smoldering. It was always a treat to be able to go with him for a ride in the pickup and sit on the hilltop by the water towers looking for sparks. I mostly looked up at the Colorado stars (a fireworks display all on their own) but enjoyed just being with him.

There are some fun stories about my Grandad told to me by my Uncle Rick. Word had it that he was in a Paramount picture in 1928 but he worked mostly as a cowboy wherever he could get work. Some of Grandad’s friends were the Wilson brothers. They used to gang up on him whenever he came to town. One fateful day he lay in wait for them catching them one at a time to beat the snot out of them. They decided it would be better to be friends.

The Wilsons’ dad was a mule skinner who was really good with a bull whip. Grandad was pretty fast of foot so one day old man Wilson said that dad could not outrun him. The bet was Wilson and Grandad would both lay down on the ground with the length of the whip between them, 20 ft. Wilson could whip Grandad every time he could within 100 yards. When somebody yelled go, Grandad jumped up to run but Wilson snaked the whip out, tripping him by the feet before he even got started. No one was ever told how many times Grandad felt the bite of that whip. What a tough old cowboy he was. I love my family and my country! I am so thankful for my heritage!

Happy July everyone! If you are looking for something fun to do on July 12, join us for a trip to Buffalo Thunder! Call me the Alamosa Senior Center, 719-589-3277, to reserve your place now. We are located at 92 Colorado in Alamosa adjacent to Cole Park. Hours of operation are: M-Th 8 a.m.-3 p.m. & Fridays 8 a.m.-2 p.m.