I am one of the lucky ones who was born at the hospital in Yosemite Valley in the early ‘70s, and have been fortunate enough to live most of my life in El Portal. Growing up in the Yosemite area was a special thing, but much as my kids today don’t always realize this, for me it was simply the status quo. My doctor was in Yosemite Valley, my friends lived there, we had Little League games and track meets, so it basically seemed like normal life. My father ran the El Portal Market and my mother worked at the store but also for Yosemite Association (before it became Yosemite Conservancy), so I was certainly aware that Yosemite was a place people traveled to from around the world, but not ever living anywhere else, it was impossible for me to understand just how lucky I was. It is hard to pick out my “Yosemite Story” from a lifetime of personal and professional experiences, but I think it is the moment all of it sank in for me. The moment I realized that my home was the most amazing home anyone could have, that the luck I had in being born into this community was something special. It wasn’t anything profound, yet from that moment, I knew this was where I wanted to be. I was 16 years old and was walking up Foresta Road from the post office. I saw my friend Johnny Clark outside his home, he waved and smiled and asked me how high school and soccer was going. I had known Johnny for all my life, and in fact he went to the store when he heard I was being born and took over and made my dad leave so he could drive to Yosemite Valley. I had not seen Johnny for a while and I’m not sure why that moment struck me as it did. Here was someone who had always been a part of my life simply saying hello, and that was it. That moment made me realize I was part of a community that was unique, and I knew I was going to be a part of it going forward. I was going to be here. And I am. My kids, my wife and my parents are still here. Yosemite is part of my story and I am part of Yosemite’s.
Chuck Carter