• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Grandfather Says: A 4th of July to Remember

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says Grandmother sewed period costumes for the family, which we wore to the nations bicentennial celebration in Washington, DC in 1976.

Grandfather and family traveled to Wolf Trap National Park, where the day was celebrated by a festive crowd.

Later, on the way to a monumental fireworks display on the Washington Mall, the George Washington Parkway jammed with traffic and everybody just stopped, got out of their cars and watched and cheered.

Grandfather says he can’t remember many such times, when our country felt so united.

But, never one to miss an opportunity to “play the fool” (a West Virginia country saying), Grandfather repurposed Grandmother’s period dress to celebrate Halloween at the local Elk’s Club dance, circa 2003:

Grandfather, as BIG Bo Peep

***

About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian from West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.

Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family

June 27, 2019

Comments

  1. 1

    akaGaga says

    “Grandfather says he can’t remember many such times, when our country felt so united.”

    That line really caught my attention, RD, because I can’t remember any times like that. I figured out where I was then (newly-married, no kids) and realized that I didn’t pay much attention to the world around me then, because I couldn’t remember one thing that was happening at the time. So I just looked into that time frame, and came across “1976 in the United States” on wikipedia which lists a bunch of stuff that happened. Nothing I remembered, but still, there it was.

    And FYI? The dress looked much better on your grandmother. And she even ironed it. : )

  2. 2

    RD Blakeslee says

    “The dress looked much better on your grandmother.”

    Truer words were never spoken.

    “… I couldn’t remember one thing that was happening at the time. “

    Gaga, 1976 was a long time ago and my son tells me I have a memory that’s unusual. I guess I couldn’t write this series without it.

    I appreciate it when remembrances of mine prompt the retrospective you have done.

  3. 3

    Jason says

    Happy Independence Day, Grandfather. I hope you enjoy it with your friends and family!!

  4. 4

    RD Blakeslee says

    Thank you, Jason!

    We got an unexpected blessing – NOAH weather forecast was for thunderstorms, but none showed and the local parade and fireworks went off without a hitch.

    These small town celebrations are enjoyed by all. Our traditions are not disrupted by “activists”.

    • 5

      Jason says

      Awesome!!! The small town that I live in doesnt do an Independence Day parade, but we have a big festival in June with a parade. The entire town shows up, and then everyone enjoys a cookout on the little league field.

      In my opinion, the small town traditions are the best.

      • 6

        RD Blakeslee says

        People living in relatively small, like-minded groups are happy and mutually supportive, I think.

        This tradition is under deliberate attack by collectivist pols.

The Question of the Week:

Did you buy any fireworks to celebrate Independence Day this year?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • 100 Words On: Why You Should Never Ever Be Afraid of Failure
  • How to Retire Five Years Earlier Than You May Think You Can
  • 11 Dollar Store Bargains You’d Be Crazy to Buy Anywhere Else
  • What to Look for When Purchasing a Medical Alert System
  • What Everyone Should Know Before Depositing Their Money In a Bank
  • Black Coffee: Born on the 4th of July
  • How To Start Investing In Cryptocurrencies
  • Grandfather Says: The Travails of Working with Stone
  • 5 Expert Tips for Saving Money with a Credit Card
  • How to Implement Strategic Planning Processes

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. The 6 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products
  2. 2. Series I Savings Bonds Are Now Paying 9.62%; Here Are Their Pros & Cons
  3. 3. 25 Examples of Shrinkflation That No Longer Fool Consumers
  4. 4. 7 Big Reasons Why a Roth IRA Isn’t the Best Way to Save for Retirement
  5. 5. 3 Ways That Great Sleep Helps You Get Richer
  6. 6. What’s the Fastest Way to Pay Down Your Mortgage Early?
  7. 7. How to Save Money on Dental Care So You Won’t Go Broke at the Dentist
  8. 8. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodity Prices
  9. 9. Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2022 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2022