Grandma's Cabin

My Grandma Tobber, also known as Dorothy Cox Tobler, has always been an inspiration to me. She had 9 kids and ran a tight ship. She was full of life and I admired how driven she was with anything she did.

In the 1980s, the Tobler family built a cabin in the Uintah Mountains. They all worked together to build it with strong guidance from my Grandma, who picked a lavish red carpet to furnish it. The cabin always smelled of Melaleuca - her solution to everything. If you had a headache, a cut on your hand, or could not sleep, Melaleuca was always the solution. I grew up with the cabin, making fond memories with my family most of my life.

Right before my parents passed, my Dad was given the option to buy the cabin. My Dad was a truck driver for most of his career and was constantly laid off of his work. He did not feel comfortable to make the purchase at the time, so he reluctantly had to decline. One of my Aunt's was the next person to be given the opportunity. She bought the cabin and has not let us back to it since.

 One of my biggest goals is to purchase another cabin one day. I have kept a picture of my Grandma Tobler close by me as I work toward this dream. One of my friends bought me a snow globe with a cabin in it to help me keep going during the hard times. I have worked so incredibly hard to make my dream my reality by working multiple jobs and saving large amounts of my earnings. It has been a trying time, with many tears along the journey.

Over the years, I have tried to buy my own cabin with no success. The first property was a great price, but it was too steep. The second property was a great location, but after wasting some money and time, it became too expensive and difficult to build on. I am now on my third attempt, and have placed an offer on a cabin in Mount Pleasant, Utah. It is beautiful and perfect for my family, but was a struggle to obtain at first. My husband and I will be closing within the next week or two. After my failed second attempt, we thought that we would save money for a while longer and try again in a few years to build a cabin that I designed. I cannot help but look at the cabins for sale everyday and daydream. I have done this everyday since we lost the other cabin. This cabin we have chosen now just feels right, and throughout all of our attempts to buy one of our own, I have always felt my Grandma by my side. Everything is falling into place perfectly.

Before my Grandma passed, I went to visit her one last time. We talked for hours about the cabin and about the memories that we had. Something that I loved about her cabin were the handwritten notes, posted all over the walls of the cabin. I remember that one said, “don’t leave any lights on, clean out the fire pit, and put the horseshoes away". I told her that I wanted another cabin one day, so I asked her to write a handwritten letter for me to put in our new family cabin one day. I deeply cherish the letter that she wrote for me, and it makes me cry every time I read it. My family does not know that I have it, so the first night that we all stay at the cabin together, I am going to share it with them. I have waited for this moment for many years. I know that she will be with me when I read it.

I am beyond excited to practice all the traditions that my Grandma started and to create new ones. My Grandma Tobler was an amazing woman, and I strive to be like her every day.

Melissa Scott

lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she was born and raised. She is happily married to her high school sweetheart, whom she has been with for 21 years. Melissa loves to go for car rides with her husband in his 1976 Ford Bronco, which he recently restored and has had since he was 16. She loves to cook for her family, spend time outdoors with pine trees and enjoy a nice glass of wine.