I spent a couple of years after graduating on the oil rigs then ran a Continental EMSCO pump shop. Uncle Sam called me to serve my country and I found out there was a big world out here. After finishing my military duty, I returned to Bakersfield to continue with the pump shop. However, I had fallen in love with the state of Washington during my assignment at Ft. Lewis. I finally returned to Washington working for U.S. Oil Company, a subsidiary of Time Oil. I spent 36 great years there, finally retiring this last June from a mid-management position.
During my time here in Washington, I continued to play basketball in the winter leagues until my late 30’s. My wife taught me to downhill ski and we have skied many resorts in the Pacific NW plus Canada. We have jogged together many miles over a period of 15 years and we have hiked many trails. One of our greatest hikes was hiking Mount St. Helens after it erupted. We have stood on the rim looking down into the crater which reminded us of a prehistoric world. As we have matured, we have found a love of golf which has more or less taken over our spare time. That little white ball is certainly a challenge and we have a love/hate relationship with it.
All though these years, we have tented, had a trailer, a small motor home and now have graduated to a “big rig”, a 40’ Beaver Contessa diesel pusher. If you see a Beaver motor home with license plates “IMPULLN” and a little Vibe tow car with license “MEPUSHN”, then the Blacks are in the area!! We have traveled many miles, seen beautiful scenery, met wonderful people and golfed many courses. One of our most outstanding trips was driving the ALCAN to Alaska and driving through Chicken, AK over the Top of the World Highway to Dawson in the Yukon.
Between rving, golfing and our family we stay pretty busy. Between us we have five children and seven wonderful grandchildren ranging in age from 16 to 5. We seem to be always going to a sports event or function of some kind and enjoying every moment of it. Even though life gives us bumps now and then, we have had a great life and Thank God for it every day. We plan to travel many more miles and golf many more courses.
