My grandparents owned a house at Mouse River Park in North Dakota. This park is west of Mohall really close to the Canadian Border. I used to hunt up in the area with my family when I was young starting at 6 and stopping when I was 17.

My Grandparents would drive the hour from Minot to MRP usually during the summer and I would ride in the back of their truck. It was a GMC and had a shell on the back. On some occasions the tailgate would be open as well. Usually I would just sit in a big round chair in the back and go for the ride. My grandparents would just take care of me.

They allowed me to eat with them and use the boat. I would travel for hours on the boat missing lunch sometimes and always returning before dark. I would help a little bit, but not enough, around the land by mowing or just moving rocks etc.

But usually they allowed me to just hang out and try and stay out of trouble. I know that the days I spent at mouse river park were the best days of my childhood. I was out of the ghetto and into the wild. I would roam the surrounding hills some days and other days I spent on the water. I always imagined that I could live out there on the river in that house.

It was very special to have that simple pleasure. My Grandfather taught me how to fix just about anything and he was liked by everyone who met him. I miss the mouse river and my time there for sure. I hope that I am giving my daughter the same quality of memories that I had.

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