Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Friday, May 25, 2012

'Babe' Enes


I know, I know. Who'd of thought . . .

Girls raised on a ranch, doing 'ranch stuff' alongside the men, are often mistaken for yet another of those men.
Until someone gets close enough to see that there are definite differences.
It's the original 'gender confusion'.
Now, on to my story . . .
My Mom, like her daughter after her, was raised on a ranch.
Surrounded by brothers.
I had three.
She had eight.
I had sisters.
She didn't.
She spent her days working alongside her brothers.
And playing sports.
I spent my days occasionally crossing paths with my brothers as they worked.
And playing make-belief.
No big surprise that, of the two of us, she was the one with the biggest muscles.
And the most athletic ability.
But like me, dressed in jeans and shirts, and with fair hair cropped short, she was often mistaken for yet another brother.
Shortly after she and my father were married, they were invited to join with the rest of their rural Milk River community in an afternoon pot luck and a game of baseball.
Mom excitedly prepared yummy eats.
Sandwiches, salads and her special 'out of this world' pie.
And grabbed her baseball glove.
The two of them spent a wonderful time, eating and visiting.
Mom got to know many of her neighbours.
The nearest of which lived nine miles away.
Finally, the food was packed up.
And the game began.
Mom was picked early.
She was obviously young and strong.
And there had to be an even number of guys and girls on each team.
Her 'captain' didn't realize that he'd just picked a ringer.
Mom walked up to the plate for her first turn at bat.
The ball came towards her.
She swung.
Remember where I mentioned that she had played sports with her brothers?
She often beat them.
The bat connected with the ball with a healthy 'crack'.
And sent it out of the park.
So to speak.
The ball shot over the outfielder's heads.
They stared at it blankly for a moment.
Then started to run.
Her team was ecstatic.
One young team member crowed loudly, “Atta Boy! Enes, old girl!”
And the confusion continues . . .

18 comments:

  1. Oh that's rich. YOu know, it reminds me of my nephew (now a grown man) who used to say, "atta boy mom" when he perceived that she had done well. Now then....about the "old girl" part.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good ol' Delano. There were a lot of people around Del Bonita/Twin River who had forgotten about it until they were reminded at Mom's funeral. I don't think that Del ever lived that one down...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The best stories come out at a person's funeral. He must have been all of 14 when he said that. Imagine living with your excited enthusiasm for that long!!!

      Delete
  3. Even as a grandmother she could still cream that ball...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Excellant! My mother was the same kind of tomboy who played on a softball team until she retired. May have played after; I don't recall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's to moms who can still knock it out of the park!

      Delete
  5. You are still as cute as ever when you were a kid :)

    When I was a kid, I also was good in sports and part of the guys. They never saw me as a girl.(until later) lol
    It's a good feeling to have guy respect:)
    They protected me from outsiders and I never knew it.

    Your Mom was a great gal!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's so funny. I bet she was quite competitive. She would have to be growing up with eight brothers and being the only girl. I love this story! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looking back, I can see that she must have been quite competitive. And you're totally right. Being raised as the only girl with eight brothers could do that to a girl! She could sure play ball, though!

      Delete
  7. You know, Mom wanted to try out for the AGPBL during the war but Grandpa flatly refused to let her go. I strongly feel that Mom had as good a chance as anyone; but at least she could say she tried. I think about Mom every time I watch A League of Their Own, and wonder...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't know that!!! She could have made it, too! A League of Their Own is one of my two favourite movies (Field of Dreams being the other . . .). Now, when I see it, I'll be thinking of mom.

      Delete
  8. What a great story! So happy to have found your blog through the NOBH. I bet your dad was so proud of her when she hit that homer :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Katie! Welcome to the neighbourhood! Dad was proud. That is one of his favourite stories!

      Delete
  9. Diane, your mom sounds like the kind of woman I wanted to be growing up! The good Lord knows how challenged I was when it came to playing sports. To this day I'm convinced it's the reason I became a cheerleader in high school! Sigh. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The cheerleaders were the cute ones! And don't try to tell me that they weren't athletes! I saw some of their moves. Yikes!!!

      Delete

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