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Leatha and Oren Kelso, my grandparents.
"I slept pretty good last night and through the
morning. But then by about afternoon, why I just
tossed and turned."
— A joke often told by my grandfather,
Oren Nelson Kelso.
I never knew my grandfather Kelso. He died 8 months
before I was born. But I've heard plenty of stories
about him. He loved to joke and he loved animals. He
was a road construction worker who at one point helped
to build the Pennsylvania turnpike.
He loved his cigarettes and booze and big, fattening
meals. Which back then was not unusual. Back then such
things were normally considered part of what it was
to live the good life. Little did they know. And it
eventually caught up with him — he died of heart
disease at age 49.
I really think I would have liked him.
You know a few years ago when Montenegro got its independence I heard over the internet that they had like this huge party. Or, I guess you could say "celebration." But no, let's face it, it was a wild party. :pA totally gratuitous image of the Montenegrin Flag.That's just in case any of the Montenegrins wake up and want to visit my blog, I want them to feel at home. 🙂
Why there is a chair near the bed in Montenegro?So the man can have a rest after sleeping….A common joke about people from Montenegro 😛
I have a chair by my bed side too. And I am not a Montenegrin :whistle:
:lol:Wow, I think I'd like the people of Montenegro!
Well let me get to the last one first. It's a really crappy photo taken with my little Sony of an old photo taken at my mom and dad's wedding. I have a much better (and larger) one, but I think my sister took it the last time she was over. As soon as I get around to getting a new printer, I'm going to get one with a scanner. I have many photos that I would like to post. I think he had a great life. Just wish he had been able to have a little bit more of it. Besides the whole Pennsylvania turnpike thing he was actually in the U.S. Cavalry when he was young. And I mean the cavalry with actual horses, not helicopters. He was based in Texas. When he got out he rode a motorcycle with a side car with his bulldog in it from Texas back to Indiana. :)No, my grandmother didn't remarry. She did date a little, but would never get serious. I loved my grandmother very much. She was quiet natured, had a bit of a stutter, was diabetic, a great cook. She died in 1982.Kelso is Scottish.
a great entry Eddie,I think your grandfather had a happy life… Did grandma marry again? Was your mothers maiden name Kelso? what is the background of the name Kelso? I love old pictures! did you scan this one? or you took a picture of the old picture?:heart:
What a great photo! It's so much fun to dig around in the family roots, isn't it? I know some great stories about one of my grandfathers. Never met either of the grandpas, because like Grandpa Kelso, my grandpas died before I was born. But, oh, some of those stories!:D:up:
Originally posted by edwardpiercy:
😮 that was a given!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :drunk: :king:
:happy: now I know much more about the Piercy family :)I hope you have a new printer soon Eddie! You have a great way of connecting old stories- history /with present, and I love knowing about your family past :yes:
My grandfather (on mother's side) was a sawmill worker, and did some taxi driving on the side. I have my sense of humour and slender build from him. He was one of the thinnest men I have ever seen, but strong like you wouldn't believe. I'm known for the same. I have incredible force for a man who is just one step from being all bones. The same with my son. My grandfather was a full time taxi driver back in the thirties, which back then ment all sorts of transport, not only passengers. He often joked about the state of his car during the German occupation, the way it was always out of order in some way or the other if a German or a German associate would hire him. As a kid, I thought it was strange, until my mother explained the concept of silent opposition to me.
And let's not forget that I could scan photos of myself. Which is very important. :p :p
@ Star. Star, I think I would enjoy reading them. If you should ever be so moved. :up:@ Martin. Great story! I imagine that sawmill work was as physically demanding as road contruction. Very strange, isn't it? The taxi suddenly, out of the blue, for reason or reasons unknown, just stopped working. Ha! A brave man. :yes:
Originally posted by Aqualion:
:up: thanks for sharing Martin! I do appreciate old stories so much!
PawPaw. Is that a nickname? The reason I asked is that my mom and such called my grandfather "Popper."They could be kin indeed! A hundred and fifty years ago they might have got together and played the bagpipes.
I never knew any of my grandparents, either, except for step-Grandma Scroggins, who I remember seeing only one time, and my mom's step dad, PawPaw Kilgore. Neither of them lasted past my childhood. Always felt jealous of other kids who talked about spending weekends with grandparents and being spoiled rotten. Edward, I am acquainted with some Kelso's who live at Chapel Hill, about 6 miles east of me on same highway. They could be long lost kin!
The old family stories. We have to remember them and keep telling them. Who else will?
Well, you said he lived in Texas, Edward, so maybe he was busy while he was here. These Kelsos from what I know about them are a rowdy bunch, or used to be anyway. Several boys.
Yep. Oh, btw, about the Pawpaw–I spelled it like that because that's the way we pronounced his title. He was always PawPaw Kilgore.
😀
@ Linda.From what I've heard my grandfather when he was young mainly loved his horse and his dog. :pBut who knows. Maybe him and a bunch of calvary soldiers visited a cantina one night and…
:lol:They are having a Highland Games here in Spokane come August 7. I would so love to go. If I could get some very lightweight little stool to take with me to sit down on every once in a while — too much walking. And, I was thinking of entering the caber toss. :p
Originally posted by edwardpiercy:
i was wondering. see, now i know why we get along well. 🙂
Great old photo Ed. I love coming across them too in the thousands I have. I never knew one of my grandfathers and my mother's father, only slightly. Met him only twice as he was estranged from the family when he married my mother's stepmother. She kept us all at a distance. So you need a new printer too huh? The scanner on mine still works so I'll continue to use it as long as I can….or at least as long as I can go without having to print out something. Right after paying almost a hundred bucks for ink cartridges a few months ago, the printer went kaput.
Hey Pam, welcome back!I think I'll stick with a HP printer no matter what. Last time I checked I found one with a scanner for something like $130 or there'bouts. I'm a totally fan of HP printers. Reliable, good utilities, fine print quality, and the cartridges although certainly not cheap aren't as expensive as a few other makers.