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Gracie Ellen on Lake Gaston

In the 1970s and early 1980s when my sister and I were growing up, we had a hog operation in Halifax County. Since hogs insist on being fed every day, we couldn’t go on vacation.

Lake Gaston was only 12 minutes away, so our parents bought a trailer close to Camp Willow Run. This was our vacation.

I wish I had a dime for every kid Daddy taught how to ski or hydro slide. Sometimes someone would bring a huge inner tube and we would all take turns being snatched around the lake. With an inner tube attached to the back of the boat, Daddy would forget that we were his kids. All he cared about was throwing us off. Sometimes some poor nut would challenge Daddy saying he couldn’t be thrown off. Let’s just say we saw some amazing airborne feats over the years. No one every stayed on!

Daddy would stay in that boat for hours every weekend pulling, no doubt, hundreds of us kids (and adults). We never thought about how hot or tired he was, nor how much all that gas cost. But he never complained. I think he loved it. I know we did.

Wanda Garren, Lincolnton, Rutherford EMC

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