Page 101 - REALLY What A time Book IX

REALLY SO WHAT
What A Time

OUR BACK YARD

I usually climbed down from the edges. Seldom from the top
by the street, or up from the bottom. I’d drop down 15 feet to
a shelf, then slide the rest of the way on the loose dirt.

Every time I climbed around I’d get covered with dirt, or mud.
When I got home I always got it from Mom. Unlike other
places, climbing upon buildings like the Powerhouse,
rummaging around in the basements, or running around in the
woods. I seldom came home with more than a scrape and
dusty pants. Here, in the ravine, she always knew when I’d
been there.
I used to dig in the ditch. We had an Army-Navy Surplus
spade which we used for camping. It was olive green and
about 2 feet long when folded. It was part of soldier’s gear
carried on their backpack. We used it to dig a trench around
our tent. When it rained the water wouldn’t puddle, but run
off the tent into the trench and away from the tent.

I would barrow it and dig holes in the side of the gully for
steps in the steepest side. As much fun as the ravine was it
would be filled when construction of the highway began.
Construction in the past 20 years had taken great strides.
Mostly, tall building like the Empire State Building, but also
the Pentagon. Now because of the need for speed and more
efficiency, and the size of the effort highway construction
developed their own multi-pronged approach.

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