That's how we were prodded awake -- are you wet or dry was the question?  We were totally confounded by such a question from one of the two fellows on horseback shining their flashlights into our faces.
  This incident happened to my old friend Joel and I when we decided to go camping during a nice spring day. We planned this camping trip for a week and finally the big day came when we decided to camp in a favorite spot where there were no homes or vehicles to worry about when we hunted rabbits in the area.
  The old dirt path led us to our camping spot back in the valley running first east then turning southeast.  It was good hunting in the there because the dirt path had a deep gully that ran the length of the valley and there were plenty of jack rabbits hiding in the gully. Great for rabbit hunting and on top of that we were always looking for rattle snakes.
  This trip we decided to take my horse ol' Highball and Joel his bike, the one with the scotch tape holding the front tire together . . . you remember those days?  We had the old sleeping bags of the type you didn't sleep too close to the fire because they could catch fire, or the cotton would smolder.  We placed hot rocks from the fire into gunny sacks to keep our feet warm.
  It started getting dark and after cooking a cottontail over the fire with a can of beans and some cocoa for a chaser.  We finally went into a deep sleep when all of a

sudden we were both being prodded awake by two fellers on horseback.  When we awoke they asked us if we were wet or dry?
  Being only ten years old I had no clue why they were asking such a strange question.  They finally asked us if we were wetbacks or what?  Being a Dutch Irishman fresh from Pennsylvania in the early 40s I had no idea what a "wetback" meant.
  They could sense we were very frightened and they finally started laughing and explained to us that they were officers on the Border Patrol and they were patrolling the area on horseback when they noticed our campfire in the valley.  They rode down to investigate and after checking us out apologized for waking us up.  That was an early lesson to terms that were used in this area concerning illegals in those days.
    The following day we left this pretty valley and headed back home.  That was all we talked about were those fellers that woke us up the night before.  We never noticed them after that.  The same area today is full of homes and paved roads that takes you from Winter Gardens Boulevard through Gay Rio Drive.  That was our path with the gully, now it goes all the way through to Melrose Lane.  Great for camping in the mid 40's!

  The Lakeside Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their "SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK" on Saturday, December 15. A full day of holiday entertainment, shopping at the craft faire, merchants booths, food court, classic car show and kidz' funzone with rides, rock climb and astro-jumps, Santa and his elves and a real snow slide.
  All this and more, will be a wonderful way to enjoy our own Lindo Lake Park and get in the Spirit of Christmas with your family, friends and neighbors.  So come on by and see what the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce is doing for our community. It's a good thing!

  Recently the Historical Society received a donation from Ray and Marlene Wilson for the purchase of a new PA system.
  The PA system has been purchased and now the installation begins.  One day soon everyone will be enjoying the new sound . . .