I have written previously about the hill behind the house where I grew-up in Bergton. The hill made a good backstop for sighting in rifles, worked great for sledding in the winter, and the field below, though not ideal, worked well enough for cow patty softball in the summer. I have one more memory about the hill. The barrel roll.
There was no trash pick-up back then. I had never really thought about it before, but our organic house waste either went on the compost pile for the garden, or was fed to the hogs, dogs and cats. In fact, long ago someone found an oddly formed rock shaped like a stone bowel. Leftover food scraps were placed in the bowl and were eaten by whatever hungry critter happened to pass by. That stone bowl has been passed down through several generations and is still in the family to this day. But I digress… Any combustible waste was placed in a barrel and eventually burned. Over time even a heavy burn barrel succumbs to the elements and the heat from many fires, making it unsafe to use.
One day a new barrel appeared in the field. Luckily, we found it before slits were cut in the bottom for draft, which would have left sharp edges. Either the top was gone, or we removed it. There must be something fun you can do with a perfectly good barrel? I think we may have rolled it around in the field for a while but that got old pretty quick. What if someone got inside the barrel and rolled down the hill? Somehow, after much discussion, it was decided that I would take the first ride. I could be talked into ‘most anything back then. I did however refuse to start from the top of the steep hill. I may not be too bright but I’m not suicidal. The trial run would begin a few yards up the base of the hill and continue down the slight incline in the field below. There was a fence at the bottom to stop the roll if necessary. What could possibly go wrong!?
The barrel was placed in position, and I crawled inside. I remember the barrel was fairly clean but no thought was given to what caustic, cancer causing chemicals it had held previously. Without further ado, with a push the ride began. Immediately I knew this was a huge mistake! What was I thinking! Not only was the world spinning like a kaleidoscope round and round, but the bumpy field made for a long rough ride. I didn’t think it would ever end. I can’t say for sure, but I imagine the barrel had a little help along the way from those on the outside.
Finally, the barrel stopped along with my earthly remains. I wish someone had notified my brain because the world kept spinning for some time afterward. If you have ever had vertigo, you know what I mean. I crawled out of the barrel as best I could and surprisingly didn’t throw-up. Much to the amusement of my pardners in crime, after several circular tries, I was finally able to stand up. Seeing my condition, there were no volunteers for a second ride. For me, this was one of those first time and last time experiences.
Another example of “what doesn’t kill you makes you strong”! If that is true, I should be pretty much invincible by now.
