Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 4

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:

“Greetings Letter” from the Army

In late 1951 during the Korean War, Dave received his “Greetings” letter, the draft notice from the Army, telling him where to report on December 4.

Sometime in the fall of 1951, before he had to leave, he wanted to visit some of his relatives in Pennsylvania, particularly his Grandma Bessie and Grandpa Daniel (Blakeslee) and have them meet me, and vice versa, and to Buffalo to visit his Uncle Forrest and Aunt Florence (Miller).

I wasn’t sure what my folks would say when he asked me if they’d let me go. When I asked, what my mom said, and Dad agreed, was “Yes, you can go. If we can’t trust you out of town, we can’t trust you here either. But let Dave pick you up at the back, in the alley not the street, so the neighbors won’t see you leave with your suitcase.”

Anyway, Dave and I did leave for the trip from the alley, and no neighbors from either street could see us leave because it was about five a.m. and still dark when Dave arrived for me. His car was the good-looking 1946 greenish-blue Desoto.

To be continued…

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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