Author: Mark

Thankful # 12: I’m thankful for my dad! My dad was a hard worker, and he taught me how to work. On Saturday’s we would go wood cutting. Sometimes I would get home at 3 AM, and at 5 AM dad is waking me up to cut wood! When it snowed we would shovel driveways and sidewalks. He was always doing service projects for the older people in our church. If someone needed firewood, dad would grab me and we would cut them a load of wood. I remember painting, doing yard work, and helping people move. I loved every minute of it because we were helping people, and I enjoyed working side by side with my dad!
Before my dad died Ralph and I drove him up to the airport, he wanted to watch the planes take off and land. We told the guy at the airport who my dad was, and he called the Forest Service/CDF Tanker Base. We were then escorted to the Tanker Base, and all the workers came out to meet dad. The first thing they said was: So this is the famous Ernie Cummins! A Legend around here in firefighting! You should have seen the smile on my dad’s face! Then dad told some of the stories of experiences when he worked there! Ralph and I were both proud of dad that day!
I’m so thankful for everything he taught me, and I really miss his fire stories! Love You Dad!

Thankful # 11: I’m thankful for my Mom! She was my best friend the whole time I was growing up! When I walked into the house mom always wanted to know how my day went. She always enjoyed what I had to say, and when I was done she would tell me about her day. Sometimes she had some crazy things to talk about when she worked at Bradley’s Clothing!
Mom was the greatest cook in the world, all of Grass Valley knew it, because they were always over at our house eating! Nothing better than her home made tacos!
Mom’s also my hero! There was a group of boys who called me ugly all the time. Mom and I were driving down a road, and we drove by the boys. One yells out, hey Ugly Face! Mom hits the brakes hard, and jumps out of the car! In a loud and mean tone she says: Go home and look in the mirror and you will see what Ugly looks like! She gets back in the car and we drive off! Now mom never laughs, it comes out as a little giggle, and her hand always goes up in front of her mouth! She let out one of her giggles, with her hand in front of her mouth saying, did I really just do that? Then with a big smile on her face, she started laughing and said, we really scared those boys didn’t we! At that moment my mom became my hero!
I have always been so very thankful for my mom! Love You Mom!!!

Thankful # 10: I’m thankful for my brother Ralph! When I think of Ralph, Baseball always comes to mind. I bet we spent hundreds of hours playing catch in the back yard, while we listened to the Oakland A’s on the radio! I never missed a game when he played little league. He played on the White Sox, and he had an RBI single that helped them win the championship game! He also played in the All Star game that year!
Some of my favorite moments: Coming home at night finding Ralph …and his four friends, Laura, Todd, Joe and Steve in my room. Peter Frampton blaring from the stereo, and all five of them singing at the top of their lungs! Plus there singing was awful!!
Ralph’s knowledge of music is awesome, and he always lets you know that he is smarter than you at music. I’ve tried lots of times to outsmart him on music trivia, but he wins all the time! I have always been thankful and proud of my cocky little brother!

Thankful # 8: I’m thankful for Jay Harris! Besides my dad, he is the greatest man I have known! He was the bishop of our church when I was young. I remember him being kind, wise, humble and so full of love. He was such a great example to me as I grew up. My favorite moments where sitting next to him in church singing the hymns. When I was 6 or 7 I told my mom that I wanted to be like Bishop Harris. She went out and bought me my first suit, I put it on, and she told me I now look like Bishop Harris! 50 plus years later I still try to be like him. His memory continues to help me be a better person.