Rock painting on an outcrop uphill from a reservoir lake along a bumpy road. Surprised and mystified. A friend recalled Mama Tried as the name of a song. Turns out, number one in the country charts by Merle Haggard in 1968. Semi-auto-biographical. Song with its own entry in Wikipedia.
Why here a few miles miles east of Eugene and Pleasant Hill? Perhaps because it was sung over 300 times in concert by the Grateful Dead. And covered by uncountable others. Touches something deep in the psyche of family.
Merle Haggard's parents were Oklahoma dust bowlers who came to the Bakersfield area in the south San Joaquin Valley. As did my parents — 1930s dust bowl refugees from Oklahoma and North Texas. Think Woody Guthrie. Appreciation to all mamas who tried, most successfully, thank goodness. Look for lyrics or check youtube.
