One of my favorite Centennial items wasn’t in the basket that I won at the Sierra National Forest Centennial Event. Each attendee was given a small booklet of short stories and reprints of “The Sierra Ranger.” I really liked this editorial because it was written by the noteworthy Sierra National Forest woman, Julia Shinn.
The Sierra Ranger
Vol. V – No. 3
A Quarterly Bulletin
Issued at the headquarters of the
Sierra National Forest
Northfork, California
November 1, 1915
Page 6 – Editorials:
The Value of a Ranger’s Wife
by
Julia L. Shinn
A pretty important question this, on the Sierra where all the permanent force, the short term men and a majority of the summer guards are married men and know by this time that their wives can make or break them, so far as the Forest Service is concerned.
Perhaps under no other circumstances is a wife so important a factor in an man’s success. In town, a mechanic, a teacher, a clerk, even a doctor or a minister can do good work and live his business or professional life out without his associates knowing whether he has a wife or not. But in a Forest she is a part of the game, or if not the game shortly comes to an end, for no woman can live happily away from all other interests if the one vital interest in her husband’s life has no value for her. A discontented wife inevitable forces a ranger’s resignation.
On the other hand, if she, too, realized that the establishment of the Forest Service has one of the biggest things ever done toward a fine socialism – a work by the Nation as a whole for the good of its future population–; if she realizes that upon the smooth running of the many small wheels in the organization depends on the effectiveness of the whole machine; if she remembers that even one woman’s attitude toward the Service in which her husband has a part counts, in the community where she lives, she can be immeasurable help. If her attitude is right, she need not do a thing, though of course we all know women who do.
There was the ranger’s wife who always let her husband go to a fire as quickly as he could saddle his horse, while she got provisions and a couple of feeds of farley on a pack horse, to follow if he were not back within a few hours. There was another one who kept run of the many free use permits issues by her husband, and when he was in another part of his district marked the posts or measured the cord-wood so that the applicant need not lose time waiting. There are many wives who answer telephones and write down memoranda of messages to be give their ranger men when they return to the cabin; type-write reports and copy maps; paper a room and put up shelves when the improvement funds for the cabin have been exhausted; answer Forest letters when their men are in the “high country” and some applicant for a privilege wants information at once. The Sierra is full of such women and of fragrant memories of others like them who have gone elsewhere.
Alas for the Sierra, there have been a few of the other kind. There was one that refused to go to bed if her husband was away over night, and so was a nervous, hysterical wreck when her ranger got back, dog tired, from his fires. There was the one who could not resist repeating bits of official information that she knew were not supposed to be repeated, just to show that she knew things. There was the one who tagged her husband, a drag on his efficiency, because she was so lonesome at home. There was the one who was too self-appreciative to associate with other Forest women. There was the one who was so “pison neat” that the Forest users planned to do their forest business with the ranger as the chance came, along the trails, rather than risk the slight frown that a muddy footprint brought, or the shaking rug that followed a visit before the visitor was out of sight. There was the woman who thought her husband wasn’t appreciated or given a chance or a rise in salary that he deserved, and so kept him discontented. Notice the past tense. They have all in time brought about the resignation of their husbands from “the finest thing in the world” -sometimes the loss to the Service of a most effective man.
For those of us who are left, there remains the high faith in the Service and its value, in the rangers and their work. The old poem that was dinned into our ears when we were small holds good as applied to this Forest work. You remember the lines:
“Who sweeps a room as to Thy law
Makes that and the action fine.”
Just as truly, who lays a pipe line, or mends a trail or stretches wire as to the great law of social service as carried out in the Forests, has done something worth while. And the wife who rests him when he is tired, helps him when he is busy, sympathizes with his ideals and his ambitions for his district, is of inestimable value – his “friend and fellow-worker”.
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(inestimable adj. too great to be estimated or appreciated.)
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Now, I recognize that I am not (yet) as noteworthy as Julie Shinn, but I would like to offer my version of “The Value of a Ranger’s Wife.” Ninety years ago, Julia Shinn’s 1915 insight was a ‘Forest Service way or the highway;’ all or nothing. I think that today she could write about choosing balance.
“The Value of a Ranger’s Family”
by
Cynthia A. Whelan
Today’s commitment to the Forest Service requires balance; life, love, relationships, family, home and all that we value including our jobs with the Forest Service. The support, love and friendship of one’s family are an important part of being a successful public servant. On the other hand, promotions, transfers and quality service are difficult, if not impossible today if you have other family members to consider. I think many Forest Service employees would agree, without balance, a Forest Service career can place you somewhere between half empty and half full.
I met my husband in the Forest Sciences Pathology Lab at Humboldt State University. I had just been offered a Cooperative Education GS4/499 Forester Trainee position with the Forest Service and I was looking forward to the career of my life. Keith was looking forward to Graduate School and a career of teaching at a large University. To this day I remember that moment we were introduced, and I am a hopeless romantic; it was love at first sight.
Despite being a romantic, I grew up with more “or’s” than “and’s in my life. You ate chicken or spaghetti. Someone was with you, or they were against you. Clothing matched your black shoes or your brown shoes. You were Republican or something else. Women had children or had a job. I was to have a future with my soul mate, or a career with the Forest Service.
I remember one particularly grim moment in college, sitting in the lady’s room of the Humboldt State Library. I was crying and I took out a pencil and wrote on the bathroom wall “why can’t I be with the one I love, and have my job?” I realized then that there was something terribly wrong. I was writing on the restroom wall. How sorry is that?
So together we made plans, and we changed plans.
Keith went with me to the “California Outback,” Somes Bar and worked doing botanical surveys and silviculture/forestry technician seasonal work for the Forest Service. Further committed to working and staying together, he changed his plans for Graduate School and followed me to the Sequoia National Forest where he was able to continue with his career by getting a Teaching Certificate at Fresno State. He would teach at a High School instead of a University.
I changed my plans. I was on line to be a District Ranger and move up the ladder as fast as I could. My college roommate and I made jokes that “we would become District Rangers before our thirtieth birthday.” This was soon supplanted with a desire to allow my family to stay in place. I have foregone firefighting, training classes, detail opportunities and promotions in support of my husband and children. I developed my skills, diversified my experience, and made sure that I completed quality products that furthered the National Forests and my accomplishments with the Forest Service.
Keith, Me “Employee of the Year” and District Ranger Sue Warren, 1994, Pineridge Ranger District, Sierra N.F.
Success of the individual depends on the successful support of their family. Success of public lands in America, and the Forest Service depends on the support of individuals willing to make compromises and find alternatives to traditional approaches.
I have known Forest Service employees who do their job and pass over, disregard, and neglect their personal life and family. Their personal life was left half full. Fires are used as an escape from responsibility. Employees have uprooted children for marginal promotions. Work is too important to take time out for family vacations. Details are taken for the benefit of one at the expense of others at home. When someone is offered a promotion there is often the question “Is your family going with you or are you going alone?”
Family vacations are important. Patrick and Keith kayaking on the Kona Cost 2005
I have also known Forest Service employees that use their family and personal life to neglect their job with the Forest Service. Their job is left half empty. Deadlines are missed because “I had to go talk to the school.” “Sorry I’m late. My dog got out.” “I can’t make it to the meeting because of I didn’t take care of my health so I’m calling in sick for the sixth day this month. ” “Will you fill in for me because I can’t control my life?” “I can’t help you because of my (fill in the blank)’s graduation/orthodontist/dentist/doctor/alergy/headache/cable company/dishwasher/court appearance/accident/car repairs/bloody nose/bad hair…” “I forgot to get that for you, and I’m leaving in five minutes to pick up my children, because my husband can’t pick up the children, so you’ll have to wait for it until I’m back from annual leave later next week.”
Today, my husband and I are looking forward to the next ten years of our two careers. Both of our glasses are full. We have love, pride, dedication, accomplishment and satisfaction in two lives lived well. My husband’s success as a teacher and my success in the Forest Service is largely due to our willingness to be together and cooperatively participate in “-a work by the Nation as a whole for the good of its future population —”.
I agree with Julia. Whatever contribution I make in service to America, and whatever stewardship of public lands I am able offer, must be in some part be attributed to my successful relationship with my best “friend and fellow-worker.” Together we are inestimable.
