The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage:
An important P.S. to my Oldsmobile story: On December 13, 2000, the news came out that “Oldsmobile is coming to the end of the road. The oldest brand name in US automotive history will be retired over the next few years.” It started out, founded by Ransom E. Olds, as the Olds Motor Vehicle Co. in Lansing, in 1897, and eventually General Motors absorbed the company.
In our last year in Lansing we bought a two-tone blue Olds Eighty Eight that had been a “factory car” used by one of its executives, and we kept that car and enjoyed it for several years.
Dave’s Graduation, August 1957
Dave was honored to have his Grandma and Grandpa Miller (Dave always looked up to his grandfather, and we know that Grandpa respected Dave, too) come from Saginaw as guests for his graduation, and Mom and Dad and Dave’s Mom also came, so everybody who could come was there.
I served everybody dinner in our little apartment before we left for the ceremony. I had cooked my first turkey for the occasion, and it was half raw when we cut into it. I was very disappointed, but there was no choice except to eat the other parts of the meal, put the bird back in the oven, and eat turkey after the ceremony.
Richard Nixon gave the commencement address. After the graduation ceremonies, Grandma and Grandpa Miller came back to our place for lemonade and well-done turkey.
That was a very special day for Dave, and for his grandfather also! He took me aside one time; I think it was that very day, and said, “Love him and he will never look at anybody else.”
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
Thanks for sharing Mr. Dave.
An Oldsmobile 88 used to be such a luxurious car for working folk.
Right, Bill.
It was nearly identical to the Cadillac, known in those days as among the world’s premiere automobiles.
“Rocket 88” engine, Hydramatic transmission…
Grandfather remembers his looking forward to returning to what was then L’Enfant’s beautiful Washington D.C.
Armed forces veterans have their lives expanded by the places they have been while in the military.
Grandfather had been raised in industrial Detroit and his Army training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia took his perception afar.