My Grandfather, although he moved around a lot when he was a kid, grewup 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 firstthree months of his life. He then moved to Texas where he lived in the suburbsof Dallas. He then moved to California and moved back to Texas to live with hisgrandparents for times when his mother couldn’t have him stay with her. Hismother married a man named John and they moved to New Mexico. There he lived ona dude ranch his step-father was building, and he got to ride horses a lot. Hischores there were to strip trees to help build buildings, and he took care ofthe horses. He later did chores around the house. He moved out of New Mexicoafter 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. Hisdad left when he was three because he couldn’t take care of any one, not evenhimself. He recalled that John told lots of tall stories; something thatgrandpa 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 whenhe got home, his favorite toy, a refrigerator handle, was missing. Then henoticed that the two trees that were in front of the house were gone. He calledthe police. When the police got there, the baby-sitter was there and said theowner had taken the trees out. When the police officer found out that a handlewas all that was missing, he gave my grandpa a lecture about only calling thepolice in an emergency. He never found the handle. My grandpa liked chorus themost, and he hated the rest of the classes. He remembers something Mr. Banks, amath teacher, said to him. “Well Ronnie, it’s just a little to little, and alittle 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 wasnot go to school. His best friend was Eddie Boucher. He met him in gradeschool. 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 theywanted. They played snooker in the back yard on the pool table, and they wenton bike rides all over the San Fernando Valley.
My grandfather’s career started n the U.S. Air Force. He joined itbecause it was an adventure. He did not have any preparation to join. He wasthe NCOIC (non commissioned officer in charge) of the refrigeration shop on thebases. After twenty years of service to the Air Force, he left that and hasbeen working with RCDD (residential care for the developmentally disabled). Thegreatest 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. Hedoes not suggest joining the Air Force, but RCDD if you have the correct naturefor the job.
He does not have a set schedule, because of his job. He likes any partof the day as long as he does not have to do hard things. He likes any seasonwithout ice and snow. His worst experience with ice and snow is when John gotkilled 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 ofall modern appliances. His favorite hobbies are using the computer and watchingsports on TV He reads lots of books and appreciates good literature. He hastraveled all over the world because of his service in the Air Force. He enjoysbeing with his family the most of all. His favorite experience is opening a newcomputer box.
He believes that people get along by being tolerant. He said thegreatest people of this century are F. D. R., Einstein and Gandhi. The greatestpeople of earlier centuries are Plato, Aristotle, Christ, Buddha and Newton. The most significant technologies are rocket science and space travel. Theworst invention this century is the atom bomb. He believes a person need to beadaptable to changes in society. The biggest problem is the inability of thehuman race to take care of the world. People can help by paying attention andhelping 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.” Thething he learned from his parents is that all living things have value. Beactive in the world around you.
In conclusion, my grandfather has lived a varied life. He started outslow but he sped up on the way and turned out well.
