Kukamuga Junction was not officially the name of where I grew up. But that is what the people in the community called It. The people who lived there, leased quarries from the forest service. All the people who lived there had to haul drinking water in fifty-five-gallon barrels. The wash water was gotten out of rain barrel caught off of roofs. Or out of rock quarries. My brothers and the other families’ boys had to gather wood every day so the mothers could cook, make coffee, or heat water for washing dishes etc. What the men did for a living was dig flag stone out of rock quarries with picks and shovels big bars and iron wedges. The forest service finally tore all the shacks down and mowed the roads into the Shanty shacks closed and ran all the people out of there. Now they still dig flag stone but Stone companies are the only ones allowed, they use equipment and forklifts. When you read my book, you will see that we lived a pretty harsh life but it was all we knew. My brothers both grew up and owned and operated their own construction companies. I ran kitchens with my husband who was a chef. I owned a thrift store I had a bed and breakfast for six years I was a C.N.A. for the last years of my employment. My baby sister. Worked in a hospital. So, although we had adversity in our growing up years I hope this book inspires hope.
