In 1969, while stationed at Da Nang Air Base during the Vietnam War, the idea for this book first took shape. With little free time in a war zone, the author scribbled down a few chapter ideas on a yellow legal pad. The notes gathered dust for decades until 2006, when he self-published his book.
Now, at the age of 81, he’s revisiting his collection of childhood memories in this special reissue. Stories My Wife Wishes I Wouldn’t Tell the Children recounts the author’s mischievous adventures growing up in a West Texas oil company employee camp. Through humorous, heartfelt tales, he shares glimpses of a boyhood spent testing boundaries, surviving mishaps, and sometimes narrowly avoiding trouble — much to his parents' dismay.
These stories are more than lighthearted anecdotes; they carry the essence of a bygone era and a way of life that shaped the man the author became. Inspired in part by his father's sparse recollections of growing up on a 29,000-acre Texas ranch, the author hopes these stories will provide his daughters with cherished family memories.
Told with honesty, warmth, and a touch of mischief, this book invites readers to reflect on their own childhood adventures and the enduring power of family stories.
