Was there a time when you were a part of something fast, powerful, bigger than yourself?
I decided to take a trip down memory lane and write about an event that I initiated and it made national news. 
It was covered on all of the "Big 3" networks, William LaJeunesse from FOX News paid me a visit and did an in depth interview with me.
Range Magazine devoted multi-page spreads in several successive issues, Time magazine & The Wall Street Journal covered it.
Michael Savage spoke about it on his show, along with so many other personalities up and down the West Coast and Eastward; even my Biological Father had heard about it in North Carolina (little did he know his daughter was at the center of it all). 
Then President Bush, even created a cabinet position to deal with it.
This was my moment of Civil Disobedience, my moment in the Sun:

"HEADGATES"
The irrigation ditches were dry, mud hardened into clay and cracking. 
    
A little defiant voice squeaked from the backseat, "What are you going to do mommy?"

The water had been shut off to 1500 farmers and ranchers; the people who fed our country were struggling to feed their own families. There was no indication that the situation would be remedied any time soon and it would seem Teagan somehow knew.
Little did this precocious 4 yr old know, something big, was about to happen.

It was June 2001, a week before my 30th birthday and the Klamath Basin was in the midst of a water crisis and something had to be done.
I got on the phone and called the one person who had any pull, who people knew and asked him if I could use his good name for what I was about to do. 
Not only did my Father-In-Law John Zingg agree, but he gave me names and numbers of people who would jump on board this act of "civil disobedience"

July 4th, 2001 is a day that made history in the sleepy little town of Klamath Falls, Oregon. 
A transplanted New Yorker decided to do something about the plight that befell the town she now called home.
A crowd of approximately 300 people gathered at the "head-gates" where the water from Klamath Lake is normally diverted and sent through a series of canals to feed farms, ranches & a wildlife preserve which is home to over 200 species of animals. The water had been shut off in the name of the ESA and a fish that is know to live quite comfortable in a mud puddle.

The local TV news crews stood by. The air was electric with anticipation.
With almost overwhelming excitement, I stood before the throng of people, stomach churning, and  began to speak. A hush fell over the crowd, the only sounds to be heard were the Grebes, cicadas and my voice.

"Good Afternoon Everyone! Thank you f..." A faint metallic "clink" interrupted my speech.

Eyes widened, ears pricked up and heads began to turn towards the chain-link fence behind them. A fence that separated them from the precious, now empty, irrigation canal system. 
Slowly bodies turned and began moving away from the gal in the American Flag hat and Red, White & Blue shirt. One by one at first, they tentatively filed through the gate. 
The cacophony of raucous laughter and exuberant cheering immediately filled the silence.

I stood for a moment, transfixed by the activity; Men and Women were making it happen, they were actually opening the sluice gates and letting the water flow!
I realized it was the 3rd time in less than a week that someone "broke in" to the area surrounding "A" Canal head gates and opened the sluices.

As I scooped up my infant son Darroch and held Teagan's hand, I whispered, "Third time's the charm." I beamed at my exuberant daughter "History my beauty, you are a part of history."     

The 4 yr old looked up at me quizzically. 

"You asked what mommy was going to do"

Teagan smiled back, "Mommy you helped the farmers and ranchers so they can grow food and feed all their beef again!"

I looked down at my daughter, the anxiety melting away and a deep belly laugh burst from my mouth. "Yes Princess, lots of beef will be fed."

I smiled wistfully at the memory of Teagan and Darroch's reaction when they saw a heard of cattle for the first time "That's a lot of beef mommy!"

My ears pricked up and I was brought back to the present.

Slowly the chant spread "Let the water flow, Let the water flow!" till all in attendance synchronized as one voice.
We were the last ones shepherded through the fence to join the exuberant crowd. Hugs, pats on the back, high 5's, "Congrats", "God is good" were showered upon us.

A lone voice rang out above the cheerful din, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound..." 
One voice became many and soon it was on everyone's lips...

#LoveAndie

Written 11/6/2018, Reformatted 1/2024