Since my cousin Scott and I were out of school for
a couple weeks in Dec. 1982 for Christmas, our families planned a trip to
Miami to see "Granny and Granddad", and take a trip out in the Glades. We
met at Calvin and Mary's house and had a traditional gift exchange before we
left for the club. Granddad had gotten Scott and I .410's with engraved
placards on the butt. I have it to this day.
Scott Stanley (left) Ray Lewis
(right)
with the dogs Salem and JR
We all then went to the club and loaded up the buggies
for a week long trip to Calusa. On the way we stopped on one of the praries
and had lunch. Granny (Mary) went to pee behind a group of bushes and
started screaming. We ran over there and there was a 5 ft. water moccasin
right near her. Scott and I jumped into action with our new shotguns and
commenced firing. After going through a box of shells each, the snake lay
lifeless in the road and we took some pictures. After arriving in camp we
walked out in the woods and found a small Christmas tree. We dug it up and
put it in a cooler to take back with us.
Ray Lewis (on "Bird Buggy") Scott Stanley
(on "Pink Panther")
Us boys could not figure out how on earth we would
decorate the tree, so one of our mothers suggested that everyone come up
with their own decoration for the tree. Furthermore, we would draw names
for presents and we would make our presents from scratch. Talk about
blowing the mind of two young boys, the concept of making and not buying a
present! We each went about trying to decide what we wanted to put on the
tree. Later that afternoon, Scott and his dad Richard were out in the swamp
behind Calusa and came up on a timber rattler. Scott shot it with his new
.410 and guess what, instant garland for the tree. Yes, the snake hung on
the Christmas tree for about three days before he was forced to remove it.
Seems you have to skin it or it starts stinking! I drew my uncle Richard's
name for a gift. I took a pine cone, a roasted peanut shell, quail
feathers, and quail feet, and started my project. I painted the peanut
shell red and glued it to the front of the pinecone. I spread the feathers
out and glued them to the back of the cone. I then glued the feet to the
bottom of the cone, and guess what, my uncle received a homemade turkey for
Christmas. My grandfather gave me a stool with a "V" cut in the top of it so
I could put the heel of my boot in it and pull my boots off.
left to right standing
Richard Stanley, Sandy Lewis, Harriet Stanley, Mary
Stone
Bottom right
Ray Lewis green shirt
Scott Stanley grey shirt
Sandy Lewis and Harriet Stanley are
Calvin & Mary Stone's Daughters
I don't remember a lot of the other decorations or
gifts, but I can promise you one thing, I will never ever forget that
Christmas. It goes down in the books as one of the best ever in my life.
We all know the Indian origin of the word "Calusa", but Granddad always thought it was funny to refer to it as CAL-U.S.A.
Story by: Ray Lewis, Grandson of Calvin Stone - June 2009