Chowchilla....someone mentioned this little town last night and it got me to thinking. This town is never far from my thoughts. No, I am not from Chowchilla, (Azusa will always have that spot in my heart) nor have I ever really lived there, but I did spend a lot of time there. However, it is a big part of my life and my girls lives as well.
Chowchilla is a small, sleepy town (or at least it was) in Central California. I had never heard of it until the mid 70's when my sister and her husband moved there from Oregon. I had to get the map out to see where it was! There wasn't a lot there when she moved there...surrounded mostly by agriculture and right on Highway 99. Back then the only reason you would have heard about this town was the Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping in 1976. There was no prison in this town then, which has boosted the size and economy of this town tremendously. It was, a sleepy, little town. One I loved. After my sister moved there my aunt and uncle also moved to Chowchilla...this town was really starting to become a part of my life.
Then in 1980 my parents moved there...a perfect place to retire. So, this small town became an intrigal part of my life as well. All things centered on this town. Al, Jenn and I would leave Lancaster, CA (where we were currently living) on a Friday after work to make the 250 mile trek to Chowchilla for the weekend with my parents and my family. Melanie would migrate there from where ever she was living to see Grandma and Grandpa. It had a hold on all of us!
In 1984 my Dad died and was buried in Chowchilla. I knew right then this town would always be in my thoughts and heart and that it would always be a big part of me. Mom lived there for a few years after Dad died, then she moved to Alta Loma, CA in January of 1988 and died in April of that year. And yes, she went right back to Chowchilla to be buried next to my dad. So, as you can see, Chowchilla has become a very big part of my life. I will always be drawn to this not-so sleepy anymore little town. It is part of the fabric of my life.
Melanie lived there for a while as well and met and married her husband in Merced, which is 15 miles north of Chowchilla. And two of my grandchildren were born in Merced, so I made a lot of trips to see them as well. Unfortunately, this was after my parents died, but again, it was almost like I HAD to be a part of this town.
My niece still lives in Chowchilla, and we make a big effort to go through Chowchilla on our travels, even it it does take us a little longer to get where we are going. I have so many fond memories of this town and what it represents to me. The little white house on 13th street that mom and dad lived in; the little grocery store on the corner; the little bakery on main street; the little taco stand, etc. So many memories........
The town has grown so much from what it was in the 80's. There is a huge Women's Prison there now, which bought in more people and boosted the town's economy. It has a lot of fast food places now, where there were NONE when my parents lived there...it even has a Starbucks now!!! And it has one thing still near and dear to my heart...my parents.
So here is to you Chowchilla....a great little town with a big string attached to my heart.
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