Education, politics, and anything else that catches my attention.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A Ripe Old Age
I got a call from one of my aunts tonight. Grandpa's 97th birthday--no, that's not a typo--is next week, and he wants to go to Hometown Buffet for dinner on Sunday.
The stories that man tells, especially from his childhood in Arizona....
I was discussing with some friends about my Grandmother who passed away a few months ago at the ripe old age of 95. What Momee saw in her time (something similar to your Grandpa):
1. She lived in the Deep South without air conditioning…or even the concept of one. For those of you who think that’s not a big deal, spend a summer in South Louisiana without it!
2. She lived to see places go from a crazy idea to our major part of our transportation system.
3. She lived in Jim Crow and though the Civil Rights era.
4. Five (or six, depending on how you call Iraq/Afghanistan) major wars.
5. Autos going from a rich boy’s toy to the major part of our transportation system.
6. Computers becoming a major part of everyday life…I wonder if she was born a few years later how she would have handled it in her career…she was a librarian.
I’ll get off my rand…I’m glad your Grandpa is still there for you and Austin!
Wow, straddling the period in which piles of horse manure could be found in the streets of every town and city to the time when piles of horse manure can only be found in state capitals and Washington D.C.
All over. As I recall, his mother was a teacher on an indian reservation.
He got tired of his older brother beating him up, so he left home at a young age and went to school/worked to support himself. Imagine a jr. high-aged kid trying to do that today!
He was a CB in the Pacific in WWII. He was a surveyor, and platted a lot of what is today Fremont, CA. I took him there a few years ago--it had changed a bit in 50-60 years!
It's a big deal for me, especially considering what I wrote about the 4th picture in this post: http://rightontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2006/01/pictures-from-conference.html
I was discussing with some friends about my Grandmother who passed away a few months ago at the ripe old age of 95. What Momee saw in her time (something similar to your Grandpa):
ReplyDelete1. She lived in the Deep South without air conditioning…or even the concept of one. For those of you who think that’s not a big deal, spend a summer in South Louisiana without it!
2. She lived to see places go from a crazy idea to our major part of our transportation system.
3. She lived in Jim Crow and though the Civil Rights era.
4. Five (or six, depending on how you call Iraq/Afghanistan) major wars.
5. Autos going from a rich boy’s toy to the major part of our transportation system.
6. Computers becoming a major part of everyday life…I wonder if she was born a few years later how she would have handled it in her career…she was a librarian.
I’ll get off my rand…I’m glad your Grandpa is still there for you and Austin!
Happy Birthday to your Grandpa! And many more! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, straddling the period in which piles of horse manure could be found in the streets of every town and city to the time when piles of horse manure can only be found in state capitals and Washington D.C.
ReplyDeletewhat part of arizona?
ReplyDeleteSo let's hear some of those stories! I love hearing about "the way things used to be." It's keeps me grounded.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your gramps!
All over. As I recall, his mother was a teacher on an indian reservation.
ReplyDeleteHe got tired of his older brother beating him up, so he left home at a young age and went to school/worked to support himself. Imagine a jr. high-aged kid trying to do that today!
He was a CB in the Pacific in WWII. He was a surveyor, and platted a lot of what is today Fremont, CA. I took him there a few years ago--it had changed a bit in 50-60 years!
Hey Darren - sorry to say this, from one teacher to another - check your grammar: "one of my aunts" - no apostrophe. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteDuh. Thanks for the catch.
ReplyDeleteIt's a big deal for me, especially considering what I wrote about the 4th picture in this post:
http://rightontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2006/01/pictures-from-conference.html