In 1978, Scot Martin and I walked the entire length of California on the Pacific Crest Trail. But we couldn’t pass up Project, could we?
So, we took a break to join Project in Ione, California. This was the first year SSP ran two sites. The other was in North Fork, California. Eric Clem was the site director in Ione, while Janet McKeithen directed the North Fork site. Floyd McKeithen was the executive director and traveled back and forth between the two sites. Eric was pure talent, an absolutely wonderful human being. Sadly, Eric died a few months later in a jeep accident. When Eric, Janet, and Floyd were together, the effect was magical and the laughter was nearly constant!
This was also the summer that Tex Evans died. That winter, Floyd wrote a song about Tex. It didn’t have a name, but I have an ear for songs and never forgot it. Scott Whistler had once taught me a song that he had learned on the Appalachian Service Project. This song was called “Our Hearts are in the Hills” and I taught it to my campers. Later, I taught them the “Tex Evans” song. I think it surprised Floyd that, a year later when he visited our site, everyone knew his song.
The following year Jonathan Chute and I had to split a salary. I think I made $150 for working all summer, and that was before taxes! In those days, the jobs weren’t clearly defined. We all pitched in to do everything. I remember coming down with strep throat and I still had to lead the singing. There was a physician’s assistant in the area, but the morning I went to see him, the supervising doctor had died. So, the physician’s assistant couldn’t help me. Even though our group was great, I was never so glad to see them leave on Saturday morning. I just wanted to collapse! But, that was not to be. Within an hour, the group was back to tell us that there was a forest fire up the road. We grabbed shovels and spent the morning fighting the fire.
“Some of you are going to be doctors, and some of you will be teachers, and a hundred other professions. But you will take what you have gained here and spread it in your own way throughout your whole life.”
There are so many stories to tell. But I still remember Floyd’s prediction. He said, “Some of you are going to be doctors, and some of you will be teachers, and a hundred other professions. But you will take what you have gained here and spread it in your own way throughout your whole life.”