Near the beginning of his memoir, Wrong Side of the River, author Cliff Johnson tells a shocking story from early childhood.
In 1954, a week before Johnson was set to enter the first grade, his great-uncle invited him on a late-night alligator hunt. At the time Johnson was being raised by his great-grandmother. They lived near Cow Bayou not far from the Sabine River, in the far southeastern corner of Texas. Johnson’s mother was a fugitive from the law. His father was a mystery.
When they reached the water’s edge, Johnson’s great-uncle seized him and pulled him in. To Johnson’s horror, he realized his Uncle Rudy had no intention of hunting alligators that night. “Uncle Rudy grabbed me with his other hand and pushed my head under the cold water,” the author writes. “I struggled to pull free but his grip on my arm only tightened. With both hands he pushed me to the bottom and then attempted to stand on top of me. Pulling on his legs didn’t seem to make any difference. I was fighting for my life and it was obvious he was trying to drown me. There was nothing I could do but hold my breath and continue to struggle with all my strength.”
Johnson’s Uncle Rudy was an alcoholic merchant marine who wanted the young boy dead because he was tired of providing for him.
Incredibly, Johnson escaped, and the following morning his great-uncle apologized, claiming he had sought forgiveness from the Lord. The murder attempt was never mentioned again, Johnson writes, “buried like a lot of other family secrets … that were just as dark as the bayou itself.”
With so many wild stories to share, Johnson’s memoir hooked me early and didn’t let go till the final page. I could scarcely put the book down. That’s unusual for me, because memoir is not one of my favorite genres. In many tales of childhood trauma the author comes across as bitter or self-pitying. That’s understandable, but it doesn’t always make for the best reading.
If anybody has a right to express resentment, it’s Johnson. As a child he was repeatedly abandoned or put in harm’s way by a revolving cast of colorful but deeply flawed adult guardians who passed him around like a shared burden. However, Wrong Side of the River is no airing of grievances. It’s more of an adventure tale, fast-paced and full of good humor. I enjoyed it immensely.
Johnson responded to my questions via email.
You survived a tremendous amount of turmoil, neglect, abuse, upheaval and even a murder attempt (!) during your childhood. What was it like to relive those experiences while writing your memoir?
“Revisiting those memories that I would just as soon forget was the hardest part of writing my story. My wife was the first to notice that I would take on the mood of whatever experience I was writing about. The emotions seemed to really come out and at times would physically drain me. I think it was by adding humor, I was able to get through those times, both back when I was experiencing those events, as well as writing about them.”
How did you come to the decision to share your story? Did you worry about airing some of your most personal family secrets?
“For years I wouldn’t have dreamed of telling anyone what my younger years were like. After all, I wanted to fit in … be an equal with those around me. When I first decided to go into law enforcement and was interviewing for the position, the mayor ask me if I had any skeletons in my closet. Can you imagine my horror? My mother was in prison for most of my childhood, and we had been on the run all over the country. Skeletons in my closet? I think I was keeping the whole cemetery in there!
“The only person that wasn’t happy about me writing my story, was my Uncle Rudy. He had tried to drown me when I was a child. When he found out that was going to be in my book, he called one morning at 3 a.m. and wanted me to go fishing with him so we could talk about the event I was accusing him of. I told him that I’m a lot bigger now than I was back then, and it would probably turn out different than he expected. He died a couple years later. Health reasons … I had nothing to do with it.
“My mother and an uncle helped me with remembering the chain of events; however, my mother passed away before the book was published.”
As a reader I couldn’t help but compare your book to Mary Karr’s highly celebrated memoir, The Liar’s Club, which kind of launched a national memoir craze after it was published in 1995. Her book and yours are both coming-of-age stories largely set in Southeast Texas, featuring an eccentric cast of deeply flawed adult family members. Were you influenced by her work? What was it like following in the footsteps of such a successful book?
“I didn’t read The Liar’s Club until after my book was published. In fact I hadn’t heard of it until my sister told me I needed to read it, as a lot of her story took place in Southeast Texas. We grew up just across the river from each other. Strange that she would end up in New York and me in Idaho. As for following in her footsteps, she didn’t leave me a very clear path to success. I’ve had to find my own way.”
Seriously, though, why are there so many crazy people where y’all are from?
“Doggone it, just because some of my distant relatives fire shots at you when you are floating down the Sabine River, doesn’t make us all crazy. After all, he thought you were his brother … not some stranger passing through.
“Seriously, it could be a number of factors. Southeast Texas, Southwest Louisiana, the Piney Woods and the bottomland along the Sabine River have always been a place like no other. They say Alaska is the last frontier, but I’m not so sure that that’s true. Change comes slow to this region of Texas and Louisiana, and one of the first questions a stranger my be asked is, “Who are you kin too.” If you’re not kin to anyone, you may not feel very welcome. Johnson is a common enough name that I never really had that problem.”
How is work coming on your sequel, Right Side of the River? Has the writing process been any different this time around? I’m dying to know how your various family members ended up, especially whether your mom and Big Mama turned their lives around, and whether you ever found out who your dad was. Do you plan to answer these questions in the next book?
“Right Side of the River is over halfway finished. What makes writing it different is, on the Wrong Side of the River I was a juvenile. On the Right Side, I’m an adult, so I have to consider the statute of limitations.
“During the process of researching and writing I did find out who my dad was and discovered I had siblings that knew nothing of me. If nothing else ever came out of writing, that made it all worthwhile.
“My next book will start where Wrong Side of the River ends and come up to my retirement, as Chief of Police. It’s been a long journey and one that I look forward to sharing with my readers. I guess the one message that I really want to express is that regardless of your beginning in life, we each have the power to control the outcome. Life is all about choices.”
Author Cliff Johnson left Southeast Texas as a young man. He recently retired as the chief of police for a small town in Idaho. Buy his book from Amazon or directly from his website, Misty Peak Publishing.
1,472 responses to “Surviving the ‘wrong side of the river’”
You need to take part in a contest for one of the greatest blogs on the net. I am going to recommend this website!
okmark your blog and check again here regularly. I am quite sure I will learn plenty of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Thank you
You are so cool! I don’t suppose I’ve read through something like that before. So good to find somebody with some genuine thoughts on this subject. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This website is something that is required on the internet, someone with a bit of originality.
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Great work!
It is best to take part in a contest for among the finest blogs on the web. I will advocate this site!
Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, fantastic blog!
Hi, i believe that i saw you visited my website so i got here to ?go back the choose?.I’m trying to find issues to improve my website!I suppose its ok to make use of a few of your ideas!!
This is a must-read for anyone interested in this field.
Your ability to simplify complex concepts is truly admirable.
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thanks, However I am encountering issues with your RSS. I don’t understand why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody having similar RSS problems? Anyone who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks.
I used to be able to find good information from your content.
Heey there! Do yoou knoiw iff thney make aany plugns too help with Search Engvine Optimization? I’m trdying tto geet my blog tto rank for some
targetedd keywords bbut I’m not seeinng ery goodd gains.
If youu knopw off any please share. Cheers!
Your blog is my go-to for insightful content. Keep it up!
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Many thanks, However I am encountering troubles with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody having identical RSS issues? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks.
After I initially commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I recieve 4 emails with the exact same comment. There has to be a means you can remove me from that service? Many thanks.
Thanks for another informative website. Where else could I get that kind of information written in such an ideal way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
This blog was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Kudos.
Choose the model that will ignite your passions and give you a glimpse into the world you crave to explore. Hot live models are ready to accompany you on the exciting journey of your dreams.
I blog quite often and I seriously thank you for your content. Your article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to take a note of your blog and keep checking for new information about once a week. I opted in for your Feed as well.
I havfe tto thank youu for the eforts youu hve put iin penning this website.
I am hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts
from yoou laqter on ass well. In fact, your creative writing abjlities has inspired mme too gget
my own, personal website noww 😉
There is certainly a great deal to know about this topic. I love all of the points you have made.
????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ?????
??? ???? ????.
This web site definitely has all of the information and facts I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
There is certainly a lot to find out about this issue. I love all the points you have made.
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you need to publish more about this topic, it may not be a taboo matter but generally people do not speak about such topics. To the next! Many thanks.
?????? III ???
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I absolutely loved every bit of it. I have got you book-marked to look at new things you post…
You consistently provide actionable takeaways. Thank you!
May I simply say what a comfort to uncover an individual who truly knows what they are talking about on the net. You certainly know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More and more people should look at this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you’re not more popular since you surely have the gift.
?? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ??? , ?????
?????? ?????- ???? ????? . ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??.
This info iss priceless. How can I find out more?
I blog quite often and I truly appreciate your content. Your article has really peaked my interest. I will take a note of your website and keep checking for new details about once a week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be helpful to read through articles from other writers and use a little something from their sites.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your
blog. You have some really great posts and I think I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write
some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please blast me an email if interested. Thank you!
Good day! Thiis is my firzt viwit to youyr blog!
We are a team off volunteers and stqrting a new initiaive in a commuity iin the same niche.
Your bllog provided uss valuablee informatin tto worfk on. Youu have done a outstanding job!
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it does not fail me as much as this particular one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I genuinely believed you would have something helpful to say. All I hear is a bunch of crying about something that you could fix if you were not too busy looking for attention.
Hello, this weekend is good for me, for the reason that this moment i am reading
this wonderful informative post here at my house.
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told used to be a
entertainment account it. Look complicated to
more introduced agreeable from you! However, how
could we keep up a correspondence?
Everything is very open with a clear description of the challenges. It was truly informative. Your website is extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing.
???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???????
????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ??
?????.
I quite like reading an article that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment.
I really like it whenever people come together and share thoughts. Great blog, continue the good work!
Pretty! This was an incredibly wonderful article. Many thanks for providing this info.
You are so interesting! I don’t think I’ve truly read through a single thing like that before. So great to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This website is one thing that is required on the internet, someone with a little originality.
I could not refrain from commenting. Perfectly written!
One of the most popular live chat sites online. A selection of chat rooms including chat, singles chat, cam chat
I want to to thank you for this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it. I have you book-marked to look at new things you post…
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up and the rest of the site is really good.
water music