Create Our World

 

My Great Aunt Betty and I at the Yuma Territorial Prison.

We all grow up with the weight of history on us.  Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies.  ~Shirley Abbott

Today’s and tomorrow’s posts will be about my time with my Great Aunt Betty.  She lives in Yuma and we have only met each other a few times.

Welcome to Yuma and the Wintergarden’s Co-op.

“This is Ben.  Oliver’s son.  Do you remember me?....”  

My Betty did remember me, although we haven’t seen each other in at least 10 years, probably more.  She isn’t up to anything today and enthusiastically invites me over.  

Wintergardens Co-op.

Aunt Betty lives in the Wintergarden’s Co-operative.  You must be over 55 years old to live here.  Val drops me off right in the driveway.  Wintergarden’s Co-op is like a college dorm for senior citizens.  And change the college dorm to mobile home park.  I cause a little scene unknowingly as senior citizens passing me all are curious and inquisitive as to why I am here.  

My Great Aunt Betty story gets me off the hook and I find her trailer quickly.

My Great Aunt Betty.

She is my grandfather’s sister.  Betty says I look a lot like him.  She tells me stories of my father and how much she loves him as we catch up in her living room.  Her living room has photographs of kids and grandkids.  A very clean sofa and a large screen television.  

I feel comfortable and happy to be around family and talk of familiar people.

We go to eat at the Happy Chef restaurant.  It is popular with senior citizens and has great food.  As we arrive, the Happy Chef has turned to the Mad Chef.  New management, I guess. 

Aunt Betty reads up about Pearl Hart. A woman poet and bandit, whom was eventually caught with her boyfriend. He was convicted to 30 years, while she was acquitted. Later, the jury rethought and gave her 5 years.

Yuma Territorial Prison.

After lunch, Betty wants to show me the sights so we go to the nearby Territorial Prison.  Aunt Betty loves all the information about his old prison.  

Back in 1876, the first seven inmates had to build the prison themselves.  It was open for 33 years and has photographs and information on the prisoners and events of its lifetime.  Prisoners were jailed for selling liquor to the Native Americans, burglary, murder, and adultery.  The cells are small and primitive, encased in thick rock.  The Dark Cell is where you go if you are bad.  Dark like the name, with bread and water, you get thrown in here if you try to escape, try to get into the opposite sex quarters, or are rude to the guards.  

We wander and read the information.  Both of us decide we would be good as not to get chucked in the Dark Cell.  It is spooky.  

California is across the river and there are mountains to the north.  It is a beautiful time spent with a long since visited relative.  

Later that night and the next day we attempt to set up Aunt Betty with an email account.  It is a learning experience.

Create Our World.

Ben

“You don’t choose your family.  They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” ~Desmond Tutu