About a year ago or so, I put my status here as living in Sonora, fully intending to move there and get back to that gold fever that has coursed through my blood since I was about 3 years old. Lord knows, as well as a few others (Bud, Cecil, Joker, and on an on), that I have been saying I was going to go full time mining for years on end now. At the very least that I was going to have gold and mother nature in my life on a daily basis.
I put it all off, made excuses, tried to be responsible, had relationship problems, and a myriad of other things put me off this path, even if in my heart this is what I knew I wanted to do. I just can't put it off any longer. Italian bar is in my blood. I love this place. Night after night I just can't wait to get back. Its because only the mere visions of that place in my mind's eye brings back warmth to my heart and happy memories in my soul. My only regret thus far I think has been that I have not been as involved as I should have in years past but I learned what it was that I was suppose to learn and now I turn my attention to what my heart has longed for. The great outdoors calls. All I can hear over and over again is the old Buzzard repeating those same phrases about being out in God's Country. I can hear him so clearly it is eerie. Those words are so right and so true. A phrase ahead of its time, or perhaps of the time but no words truer than now. A phrase so simple yet so powerful. I don't know if I ever met him, I was only 3 way back in the 70's when this all started for me, but I can never thank him enough.
Its scary and its tough to leave my own little slice of the American dream of owning one's own house. I just can't do it anymore. The more I try to make this the life for me, the more I am shown that I am walking the wrong path. No matter what I do or how stubborn I have been to keep this place over the last 8 months, I have to face the fact that this is not my path. I must move on. I'll be selling this place in South Dakota, the land known to the likes of (and not all too far from), Laura Ingalls Wilder. I must follow my own dreams now and pass this one on to someone else more deserving. Gold country, my beloved gold country... here I come.
Comments
How did you ever end up in madison??? Seems east and west of nowhere but I like small towns too so I know what you mean about safe and friendly. Do you have family in madison or are you free to leave anytime?? Didn't know what you meant about using up your summertime prospecting days ?? Where is Italian bar?? near Sonora?? I don't have a clue about prospecting up that way from november till may but it must be cold with some snow correct! I had hoped to prospect on my claim in arizona this winter but I have stopped making payments so I may join a club in arizona and work club claims in ariz. or southern calif. I have visited grants pass, oregon a few times and it was really beautiful scenery, weather was nice too. Would not mind having a claim there to work. My number in rapid city is# 1-605-431-0785. I travel sometimes but will be here thru the winter I guess unless some prospecting opportunity comes up. Give me a call when you head west, you know you have a friend in rapid city!!!! John B
I am way out in the southeast near Madison. Maybe I'll have to swing by on the way out. Always ready to meet new friends. Who knows might be a good new start bring ya back on out west. Sorry to hear bout your claims up in AZ but have to think at least its a place to crash or camp out. Never know sometimes might be a good pocket even on a claim that seems useless. Sometimes its just that one foot over or gold not behaving like it should. Oregon is another nice place up there in the PNW to hit too if you head up that way. I'll miss this place up in SD, its a great place to raise up some kids. Its like stepping back in time here nice to see kids can play safe and have fun. I should be up at I-bar if possible soon. I know it will be cold and don't really want to use up much of my summertime prospectin' days, so I'll probably get an apt up near that way. Stay in touch and I hope that yellow metal gold finds its way back to you soon as well.
Let me know what you are up to. I also bought a mobile home here in rapid city but I don't think I have a future here either. Be in touch chris and good luck to you!!! John B