My Grandfather, although he moved around a lot when he was a kid, grew up fairly well. He has lived in California, Texas, Wisconsin and many others. He traveled to many places because of his first career.
Grandpa was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He lived there for the first three months of his life. He then moved to Texas where he lived in the suburbs of Dallas. He then moved to California and moved back to Texas to live with his grandparents for times when his mother couldn’t have him stay with her. His mother married a man named John and they moved to New Mexico.
There he lived on a dude ranch his step-father was building, and he got to ride horses a lot. His chores there were to strip trees to help build buildings, and he took care of the horses. He later did chores around the house. He moved out of New Mexico after John got killed by lightning. They lived in the poor part of the city.
The thing he remembers most about his mother is that she was a free spirit. His dad left when he was three because he couldn’t take care of any one, not even himself. He recalled that John told lots of tall stories; something that grandpa does often. His first school was in California and it was a two room school house. He had to walk home and there were water snakes in the gutters.
One time when he got home, his favorite toy, a refrigerator handle, was missing. Then he noticed that the two trees that were in front of the house were gone. He called the police. When the police got there, the baby-sitter was there and said the owner had taken the trees out. When the police officer found out that a handle was all that was missing, he gave my grandpa a lecture about only calling the police in an emergency. He never found the handle.
My grandpa liked chorus the most, and he hated the rest of the classes. He remembers something Mr. Banks, a math teacher, said to him. “Well Ronnie, it’s just a little to little, and a little to late.” He is the most proud of graduating college after twenty years. He regrets not having a teacher tell him about the importance of education. When he was in middle school, he his favorite thing to do with his friends was not go to school.
His best friend was Eddie Boucher. He met him in grade school. He went to Eddy’s house on the weekends, because they had good food. He helped clean up Eddy’s fathers restaurant and they got to eat whatever they wanted. They played snooker in the back yard on the pool table, and they went on bike rides all over the San Fernando Valley. My grandfather’s career started n the U.S.
Air Force. He joined it because it was an adventure. He did not have any preparation to join. He was the NCOIC (non commissioned officer in charge) of the refrigeration shop on the bases. After twenty years of service to the Air Force, he left that and has been working with RCDD (residential care for the developmentally disabled).
The greatest challenge is working for these people, and that is also the reward. The thing he most wants to accomplish is to see me graduate from college. He does not suggest joining the Air Force, but RCDD if you have the correct nature for the job. He does not have a set schedule, because of his job. He likes any part of the day as long as he does not have to do hard things. He likes any season without ice and snow.
His worst experience with ice and snow is when John got killed by lightning. He likes to take care of his health so he keeps moving – not die. His least favorite food is liver. He appreciates the shower most of all modern appliances.
His favorite hobbies are using the computer and watching sports on TV He reads lots of books and appreciates good literature. He has traveled all over the world because of his service in the Air Force. He enjoys being with his family the most of all. His favorite experience is opening a new computer box.
He believes that people get along by being tolerant. He said the greatest people of this century are F. D. R., Einstein and Gandhi.
The greatest people of earlier centuries are Plato, Aristotle, Christ, Buddha and Newton. The most significant technologies are rocket science and space travel. The worst invention this century is the atom bomb. He believes a person need to be adaptable to changes in society. The biggest problem is the inability of the human race to take care of the world.
People can help by paying attention and helping to solve the problem. Arts and crafts are parts of good living and he enjoys good art, literature, and good music. He believes that, “To thy own self be true.” The thing he learned from his parents is that all living things have value. Be active in the world around you. In conclusion, my grandfather has lived a varied life.
He started out slow but he sped up on the way and turned out well.
