• 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: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine

By RD Blakeslee

Original oil painting by: Grandfather’s wife

The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage:

Recently, 2001, Dave and I had some fun reading one of my old diaries, written when Jerry and Dave overlapped, gradually phasing into when I was seeing Dave only.

Meeting Dave while Christmas caroling, 1950. I continued my friendship with Jerry, and the “overlapping” began when I met David Blakeslee at the Highland Park Baptist Church Young People’s Christmas caroling evening, 1950, and he set out to sweep me off my feet that evening. I was 16. It was planned that we’d all meet at the church, then go in cars to sing Christmas carols outside the homes of certain invalids in our group’s families.

One of our destinations was Dave’s house where we sang for his father who was ill with multiple sclerosis.

We ended the evening at the home of Warren Groh, where we sang carols indoors and had refreshments. While I played the piano for the carol singing, guess who threw a big rubber spider onto the piano keys? Yes, you’re right.

When it was time to go, those who had cars drove the rest of us home. Dave invited me to ride in his car, and I accepted.

I didn’t know Dave; I hadn’t seen him before at any church activities, but I had seen his sister Marilyn and that night I didn’t know he was her brother. Since he drove and Marilyn sat in the middle, and I sat in the passenger seat, I just assumed she was his girlfriend; I didn’t think anything about it, one way or the other. But when we arrived at my house, following my directions since he hadn’t been there before, and I got out, etc., he said, “May I see you tomorrow evening?”

I suddenly caught on that they were not dating, and I said that I would be home, and he could come over.

To be continued…

***

About the Author: RD Blakeslee is a nonagenarian in 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

November 24, 2022

Comments

  1. 1

    RD Blakeslee says

    Happy memories of that start with Elaine, destined to last 53 years, is accompanied by the memory of why I went to Highland Park Baptist Church in the first place.

    I had been going to another church and, as was common in those days, played on their fast-pitch softball team. Nearly all the churches in Detroit at that time fielded a team.

    Some of the play got decidedly un-Christian at times and on the last occasion when I played for that earlier church, one of our players was also a high school football player, used to violent physical collisions.

    A runner is entitled to the base ahead of him and blocking him is illegal unless the defensive player has possession of the ball. Many of the players in those leagues were not very skilled and, on this occasion, the third baseman stood on the base as the football player approached, who simply knocked the opposing player flying, off the base, stunning him.

    Our coach took the football player out of the game as a peace gesture, but it didn’t work. In the next inning, one of our the opposing players slid into home base with his feet waist high, severely injuring our catcher who, I later learned, was hospitalized with a ruptured spleen.

    While the ensuing dust-up went on, I trotted to my car and left, never to return to that church or its team.

  2. 2

    bill says

    Thank you for sharing with us. I have a feeling there are going to be some humorous bits coming our way.

    • 3

      RD Blakeslee says

      Yes!

      • 4

        bill says

        You were so romantic throwing the rubber spider on the keys. At least you didn’t punch her in the arm. lol

The Question of the Week:

How big is your home?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

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!
Black Coffee: The Good Ol’ Days
Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 24
An Overview of the Most Common Student Loan Options
6 Ways to Fix Your Finances: Smart Tips for Resuscitating Your Bank Account
My 13-Year-Old Daughter Shares Her Financial Fears
Black Coffee: It Ain’t What It Used to Be
How Thinking Outside the Box Can Save You a Fortune
The Pros and Cons of Higher Interest Rates
Five Frugal Ideas for Fall Season Family Fun
I’m Not Rich, But I’m Financially Free; Here’s How I Got There

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending 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

Popular Now:

  1. 1. My Personal Journey to Financial Freedom
  2. 2. Why I Run My Household Like a Business (and Why You Should Too)
  3. 3. 5 Ways You Can Save Money on Groceries This Week
  4. 4. My 15th Annual Cost Survey of 10 Popular Brown Bag Sandwiches
  5. 5. 5 Frugal Tips for Family Fun During the Fall Season
  6. 6. Expensive 401k Mistakes People Make Every Day
  7. 7. 10 Ways to Get Fit for Little of No Money
  8. 8. The Ethics of Found Money: Should You Keep It?
  9. 9. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodities
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

Copyright © 2023 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2023