A Joyful Noise: Springville

Monday, October 22, 2012

Springville, Soda Springs California

One summer as kids, when we visited Grandpa and Grandma, they decided to take us to visit the Soda Springs in Tulare County. Grandpa had two large jugs that he planned to fill with the spring water to bring home with him.

As he explained it to us children, it sounded like sparkling water that would be the elixir of youth so we were very excited.

“The water is mineral water and is good for your digestion and is a health aid,” said our Grandpa. Grandma and my mother were silent, and allowed Grandpa to do all the talking.

It was a long drive but finally we arrived. We had to walk fast to keep up with Grandpa who was already filling one of his big bottles.

Grandpa also had brought a cup for us to use to sample the water. “Here you go,” he said as he handed the full cup to me.

Taking a big gulp and spitting all at the same time, was all I could manage to do. Ugg but it was the awfulness tasting stuff I had ever drunk. The smell was a lot like sulfur or rotten eggs, and that didn’t go over well with me either.

As I look back on that event I realize that a child’s taste is perhaps more sensitive than that of an adult. My grandparents and mother could manage to swallow the soda spring water and keep it down, but one swig was all I wanted at that young age.

Mother and Grandma each drank a cup and seemed to enjoy it, but we children decided to just take pleasure in the view of the mountains and the rock formations.

Grandma had prepared a lunch which we enjoyed without the water and then we headed back to Lindsay where Grandpa’s ranch was.

As an adult, I have never desired to drink that particular mineral water again.