Class Warfare

The smells associated with our vacations at Lake Tahoe will never go away. When driving up from Manhattan Beach, we would first get a hint of that wondrous aroma when we passed through Truckee. And then when we turned off the highway in Tahoma and went down the dirt road to the cabins, the smell of the incense cedars became intense. We always arrived at night and quite often we were the first vacationers to use the cabins that season. So we could smell the musty odor of a long winter and the smell of cold ashes in the firplace. It was all quite pleasant and we instantly knew were in our summer "home".

The residents of Gardner's Cedar Shadows were given beach privileges at the May-Ah-Mee Lodge, located right next to the Tahoma store and post office. I believe this was one of the first times that I experienced class distinctions. I don't think it was my imagination; the residents of the "snooty" lodge treated us as interlopers that must be accomodated. It was obvious that we were from the "wrong" side of the highway.

Picture this: 4 children, all floating in large inner tubes next to the May-Ah-Mee pier. 1 Great Uncle, (Len) standing ankle deep in the water, cuffs rolled up and wearing a ribbed undershirt. To top off the picture, he was smoking a cigar. Oh yes! We were definitely from the wrong side!