Had a quick visit with my other baby brother, she who sees robins first, Katie, Aubrey, Brooke and Olivia. They were in town for a basketball game, she who sees robins first had a bit of a cold so we met at Cabelas by the fish tank where there was a bench. Good to see everyone and wave at my sister in law!
They all would have stayed with us but they did not want to chance getting Far Guy sick.
I ran across this photo the other day.
I believe the photo was taken in the summer of 1961 as my other baby brother was born in October of 1960.
My Grandpa Sam liked to visit, he would often show up at our home unannounced. In this photo he is dressed for a weekday or a Saturday; long underwear, shirt, bib overalls, coat and his everyday hat. The pink peppermints that he shared with children would have been in one pocket wrapped in a white handkerchief. He wore long underwear year round to keep the heat in or out. His Sunday clothing was different than everyday, on Sunday he wore dark pants and a white shirt and tie....he also saved his hearing aid batteries for use on Sunday so he could hear the sermon in Finn. He chewed tobacco and could spit a long ways...which used to irritate his many daughter in laws and his two daughters. Grandpa Sam was widowed when he was 63 years old ( Grandma Hilda was 64 years old when she died) ...he visited many different widows over his lonely years and finally married a nice lady who we called Grandma Annie, who he outlived by 10 years. Grandpa Sam died when he was five days short of his 88th birthday back in 1978.
I got to thinking about my Dad's brothers and sisters...how old were they when they died?
Wilbert 77, Hugo 73, Jalmer 42, Ervin 59, Oscar 56, Arthur 23, Adolf 76, George 74, Einard 6 months, My Dad Jake 96, Marie 82, Andrew 67, Arnold 59 and Anna 85. They mostly died from cancer or heart attacks.
Far Side
"...he also saved his hearing aid batteries for use on Sunday so he could hear the sermon in Finn."
ReplyDeleteLove that he did this.
I love the fact that you have pictures and memories of your grandparents. Being the 6th or 7 kids, my grandparents were quite old by the time I have any real memories of them and I have even fewer pictures.
ReplyDeleteYour dad had a Big family...much like my dad...My dad was #15 and the baby of the family. Interesting to see the difference in ages of when they passed. I enjoy seeing photos of the years past. It was an interesting time when our grandparents were raised. Hope you baby brothers family feels better soon....the crud this year really seems to be hanging on and causing folks to be sick for weeks. Glad you did get to visit with them... thank you, thank you for my beautiful card. I loved it. Happy Sunday.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love a guy who carries candy to share! Loved reading about the simpler days.
ReplyDeleteThat photo is amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow, your dad came from a large family! You have lots of memories in photos.
ReplyDelete14 kids. You had many aunts and uncles. It was a different age with different styles. There was more individualism accepted at that time..
ReplyDeleteWhat a large family! My dad only had one brother and my mom one sister and one brother. But my grandparents came from bigger families. Love the old photos and stories. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of siblings!
ReplyDeleteToo bad your SIL wasn't feeling well. I enjoyed reading about your grandpa. He sounds like an interesting person and he sure had lots of siblings!!!
ReplyDeleteMy dad came from a large family too, but I think it was four of them who died in infancy. Rural life was hard then.
ReplyDeleteI heard stories of men wearing their long underwear year round but in the heat of a Minnesota summer it's hard to imagine that being comfortable.
My immediate reaction was the same as Sandra's - your father was one of many!
ReplyDeleteI bet none of his sons, nor son-in-laws ever suggested that your grandfather not spit the tobacco. ;)
It is wonderful to have so many photos with the memories they evoke.
Looks like you got some long living genes. Laura was sick this week end. I delivered her some things and stood way back leaving it on her porch for her. We spoke from this distance. I don’t want what she had. Took her a day to recover but would take me a week or two.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get to know my grandparents, we lived far from them. Ted, however, spent lots of time with his, and he and his relatives just finished compiling a family genealogy book complete with history, stories and photos.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the next generation will even care about the old folks, they sure enough don't have the hard life that our greats and grands did.
My father was one of twelve, there are only two aunts left. I have sixteen kids myself, (no twins), the oldest is now 40, the youngest 17. I loved reading about your Grandpa Sam, saving those hearing aid batteries. :)
ReplyDeleteMy dad's folks lived far away in Florida when I was a kid. I feel like maybe they were older too. I don't know how old they were when they died...I know my dad's mom died from melanomas, but I don't know about my grandfather. On mom's side my grandfather was much older, and I think he was in his 80s. My grandmother was almost 100. I figured my mom would live into her 90s at least, but she died at 75 from an aneurism. My dad was killed at age 75 by a semi truck. Both my husband's parents died at 75 from cancer We both felt like we'd outlive our parents' age, but now he has cancer too and it doesn't look like he'll get to 75. It just seems so unfair.
ReplyDeleteYour Grandpa sounds like a great guy! My Mom's dad and mom both died before I was born. My Grandpa on my Dad's side died when I was 8 so I never knew any of them well. I love that he kept his hearing aid for Sundays. Dennis's Mom had 16 kids in her family and his Dad had 9 in his. Mom is the very last one left of both families.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you could see more family but I'm sad that your SIL is sick. Mandy is still not feeling well and she had Influenza A over 3 weeks ago. Still coughing really bad and drippy nose. It doesn't want to go away. Take care of yourselves.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
I need to get a slide scanner so I can revive those photos from the 60's and 70's. Dad was quite the photographer and often caught people unaware.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when large families were pretty normal, I know my grandmother on Mum's side was one of 13 children. My mum was the oldest of 4 children and my dad was one of 6 although his mum had 7 children and his dad had 8 but together his parents had 6. I am the oldest of 5 children. Also I can remember dad's brother Doug often turning up for a visit it was always exciting to come home from school and see his truck parked out the front and it wasn't a small truck he drove 18 wheelers.
ReplyDeleteYou had a lovely visit with your family, even if it was brief due to the cold. I love that photo you shared—it’s such a meaningful glimpse into your Grandpa Sam’s life. The details you shared about him, like the pink peppermints and his Sunday attire, really paint a vivid picture of his character. It's always interesting to reflect on family history, and it’s clear you have so many treasured memories of your relatives. Your thoughts on your dad’s siblings are a nice way to honor them as well. Thanks for sharing these moments with us!
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