BLINDNESS NEVER SLOWED HIM DOWN - HE JUST DID IT!

George Miner, known to all his friends as "Buck" has been completely blind for more than 50 years, but you would never guess it. Miner, who will be 82 in June first began to lose his eyesight at the age of 6 from the same disease that took his oldest brother"sight Glasses improved his vision until at ageof 27 his eyes failed completely.

Miner handled the difficult situation practically." I just took my glasses off" he exclaimed matter-of factly. "They were too heavy anyway as thick as windshields!" As far as adjusting to life of blindness, Miner never gave it a thought. "I didnt do - I just did it !" he declared.

Buck was born in Eureka, Calif. and raised 60miles south on a thousand acre sheep ranch in Mattole Valley.The Mattole river meandered through a corner of the ranch ,and according to Buck they "had the best swimming hole anybody could ask for".Buck spend so much time swimming that he "became half fish,"which no doubt added to the confidence that attributed to his belief he could do anything he set his mine too.At age of 17, Buck attended the California School for the blind in Berkeley, but left after a year. " I raised so much hell they kicked me out " He declared with a grin.

Buck move to Oakland, where he made brooms and then wooden clothes dryers.In 1950 he and a friend restored an old building and opened a beer joint/cafe : He also married and built his Bride a house on the ranch in Mattole valley.

It was at the cafe where Buck played his first "gig" with a Martin guitar he fell in love with it a local music store. I was hooked badly hooked he mused. Buck eventually moved to town and got a job performing three nights a week, leading to a radio program a year after he taught himself to play .

Another career he entered into after he was blind was tv and radio repair . after a year of playing with eletroics, he took a crash course and opened a tv repair service , His wife would look at the tv and describe the problem, and Buck would come up with the diagnosis. The business continued for 10 Years a remarkable achievement for a man completely blind . Later , He began traveling throughtout his country with other musicians playing in grange halls

He journeyed to Nashville Tenn.,with a song he wrote about another passion, HAM Radios . The song he wrote was called "CQ." the radio term for Answer Me." I didn"t get much coin in my jeans, but it was a million dollar experience," exclaimed Buck , who returned to California after six months. Buck recorded a CD with other musicians two years ago, called "Truck Truck Truck" Most of the songs were composed by him. Still a passion, Buck continued to perform " in fact last year during a Hawaiian cruise he took first place in a talent contest with a song he wrote titled : "Senior Moment Blues" He has also played at the KL Bar ranch and enjoys writing and playing with a comedic bend, now as much as ever.

"It's my big love" he admitted with a smile... I haven"t written the big one yet but someday I hope too. Buck and his first wife divirced after 20 years of marriage, and he oraganized a countywide singles club with 300 people turning out for the first get-together.

In addition to writing music, Buck has written 30 books with one published called "The orgin of Mattole through the eyes of a Salmon". Thank God I took typing in high school "exclaimed Buck as he explained the years of research that went into his books. In 1999 Buck put on a big picnic at the ranch, and it was that day that he met his present wife, Barbara. She lived in Medford Oregon and he was so smitten that he visited the state returned to california and sold his ranch. He lived in Oregon for three years and decided the winters were too cold.

"I came to Arizona looking for sunshine He Explained. Beginning in Quartsite he and Barbara drove around looked at the country. With a realtor's help they found their present home and settled in Congress. And once Buck heard Pete Peterson on 1250 am he knew they'd made the right choice.When I Turned around in my car radio and found 1250 am and heard the country music that I love I said "Buck this is your home!"Last year Buck retired from his thrid and most unique pasion - one he has been doing since his childhood: going to the ocean at low tide, swimming out to the breakers and diving in among the rocks to catch abalone, a rare and flavorful mollusk.

I was more successful than other because they had to look for them and I felt them. "said Buck" I learned after so many years right where to find them - I did it all my life and quit when I was 80 ."Buck remains an avid Hamm Radio operator. When He wakes up each day He talks to friends all over the country, mostly the same people he known most of his life.I never looked at myself as anything special" concluded Buck with grin. I've had a tough, rugged life, but mostly, I like to make people laugh. One thing I learned as a boy was, laugh and the whole world will laugh with you, cry and you find your self all alone.

Comments and Trucks Trucks Trucks

I love the comments folks. Please leave your email so that I can get in contact with you or write to me directly at thom.starcomputer@gmail.com . For those who don't know it I've produced another CD and it is called Trucks Trucks Trucks. It can be ordered by clicking on this button

Around the Town Podcast

This is the podcast interview done on Around the town It got buried on their web site so we have transplanted it here to our own Blog. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the interview.

1 2 3 JUMP!!!

1 2 3 JUMP!!!
Originally uploaded by kwillits.

This is just one of the watering holes that is used for swimming and having a lot of fun. To learn more about this and other areas surrounding the Mattole Watershed buy the book The history of Mattole by Buck Miner Today

Mattole River

Mattole River
Originally uploaded by Infinite Wilderness.

A fanstatic view of the Mattole River Area

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Christmas Present

Be sure to order your CD today in order to have it in time for Christmas.  Shoot order 2 and keep one for yourself.  You'll be glad you did.

 

Email Buck today at buckbarb10@wmconnect.com and be sure to put CD Request in as the subject.

 

 

 

Leaving Comments

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Be sure to visit http://hasbeansopenmic.blogspot.com/ where Buck can be seen playing, singing and having a good old time.

Trucker's Music CD

As I mentioned in my profile I am a country singer / song writer and I've got a new CD just released. It is called
Trucks - Trucks - Trucks and as you can tell by the title it all about Trucks. Songs to listen to while your on the road. Get yours today by sending email to Buck. There will soon be a way to order online. Watch for it here

This is a truck drivers delight. Get 2 copies and give one to a friend. They will certainly appreciate it.