“West Texas Gold- The Pumper” Original Art By Deanna Caroon - A Story Of A Girl And Her Dad.

Written by Deanna Caroon Posted on 28 Dec. 2022

West Texas Gold- "The Pumper”- Original Abstract Art by Deanna Caroon

This piece of artwork takes me back to my childhood. It makes me think about all of the times I went to work with my dad; He was a pumper in the West Texas Oil Field.

My Dad worked for a company named B.T.A. Oil Producers. Those just happened to be my first words...yep, "B.T.A.", not Mama, not Dada, they were ...B..T...A. I was born and raised a West Texas girl. It has been many many years since I have lived there but the memories never really leave you. The togetherness, the smell of that oilfield, seeing those tumbleweeds blow down the road, the dirt tornadoes, the best sweet tea ever made, and mmm mmm the food, slap your mama kind of good, but most of all I will not forget the love or the way of life...It will always be with me.

Being a Pumper was such a hard job but he never let on to it. He always made time to do activities around the house and take us on family vacations. The man was in perpetual motion. We had acres and acres of land and horses, and he made sure all was taken care of on top of working. He was a good Dad and a great man. I would get to ride in the front seat of his truck (which smelled like Old Spice, Winston cigarettes, and Folgers coffee) when I got to go to work with him. I could barely see over the dashboard. I felt so grown up!

We would spend our ride out to the oil lease talking the entire time. I was maybe 8 at the time. This was exciting as he was usually quiet with me. I mean what the heck would he talk to an 8-year-old girl about? I was into my little pony, cabbage patch kids, and making mud pies and he was this bigger-than-life cowboy. But when I went to work with him, he would point out things and explain how they worked. He was in his element, and we just talked and talked. I loved every minute of it. He even told me the small pumping units were mine because I thought they were cute hahaha.

I had no idea what they did lol. I had no idea the magnitude or danger of his job either. I remember going out with my Dad and Mom on one of the work trips and my Dad collapsed. I never found out why, but he ended up being ok. I will tell you that scared the heck out of my Mom and me. I was maybe 6 at the time. She made sure he took it easy for a bit. Easy for him at least which meant he didn't work the horses and land for a day. He was a hero to me but I had no idea what was really going on at the time. I was one of those kids, you know a dreamer, picking flowers, chasing after butterflies, catching horned toads, and riding horses until it was so dark outside you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Our parents gave us a good life. Made us think we were untouchable and that the outside world could not hurt us. They tried really hard to be our protectors. I can not say it was perfect, no one's childhood was, but they did do their best.

I remember there was a little drive-through store on the way back from the oilfield. My Dad and I would drive up and get a cold beverage. You could actually drive your pickup through the store...it was so cool. The store looked something like this:

Imagine something like this in the 1980s...talk about being ahead of their time! Daddy would get him an Old Milwaukee, and I would get my Big Red and a bag of chips. He would turn on some George Jones, or George Strait, one of the Georges... and we would start on our journey home. I would drink my delicious soda, he would have his end-of-the-day beer (the beast ...yuck haha), and I would snuggle into my favorite spot. I would always lay my head on his lap, and be out cold dreaming away before we were halfway home. We knew when we arrived home my mom would have an amazing meal ready for us, after "our" hard day at work! She would be ready for me to tell her all about my adventure... after I pulled off my Dad's cowboy boots! (I did that every day when he got home from work)

Mom and Dad!♥️🥰 Talk about a love story! They loved each other like no one I have ever seen.

I have always been a talker, my nickname used to be Little Lizzy Lip Flip, or he also likes to call me Bones, haha. Yep imagine that I was a talker, and could out-eat most big cowboys! I loved our days going out to the Oilfield. To some, this may seem silly, but it is one of my most cherished memories with my Dad. This strong cowboy of a man was so amazing. He lived a short life, passing at the young age of 47 from a major heart attack. He was a Man's man, the type men wanted to be, and he still lives on through stories of him from his kids, and nieces and nephews, (grandchildren, although he never met them) because he was so loved. He was one of the great ones.

(My Dad Yuin Thomas “Tommy” Castleberry in his younger years)

They say the great ones are only here for a little while because their light burns so very bright, it only burns half as long. This painting, "West Texas Gold- The Pumper" is one of the many dedicated to my Dad. Love you in Heaven Dad. Xoxo-Deanna (Bones or your Little Lizzy Lip Flip)

P.S. This is also dedicated to all of the other Pumpers, hard-working men and women out there, and little girls out there that have those heroes for daddies and mammas, I see y'all!