Original oil painting by: Grandfather’s wife
Readers: I found this edition of Grandfather Says in my inbox earlier this year. Dave sent it to me on Christmas Day, 2023 – which is probably why I overlooked it, as I am usually nowhere near my emails during the Christmas holidays. Anyway, I thought it would be appropriate to show it today, on Christmas Day 2025. It has been an honor sharing Dave’s writings over the years here. Rest in peace, Dave. – Len
Grandfather is now 92 years old, in a wheelchair most of the time. Here he is with “latest” (chuckle) wife, Tatjana:
He is increasingly surprised that his perceptions about life continue to mature.
When he started to write Grandfather Says he had no idea that it would become important to him as a way to preserve a record for future generations of his family.
But it has, so he is now printing out a hard copy to put in a “fireproof” box for posterity.
An example of the impetus: He wishes he could read his paternal grandfather’s diary of his day-to-day life as a gold miner in the Klondike, but its been lost.
My late wife Elaine’s diary will also be preserved; an abridgment of it, The Chronicles of Elaine is appearing here on Len’s blog now, and it will be preserved also.
A word to the wise: Make a record like that of and for your family. There will be posterity that wants it.
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee (1931 – 2024) 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
Grandfather Blakesee’s wisdom has always stood out to me. Over the years, reading the articles you’ve shared about him has only deepened my admiration. His humor, insightful perspective, and practical backcountry approach truly resonate with me. Like him, I believe in investing in things that bring joy now and can be sold for a profit later—such a wise philosophy. My wife and I, much like Grandfather Blakesee and his wife, have led an eventful life, which I am now working to document. Initially, this was a personal project, but rediscovering this lost article has inspired me to preserve our story, echoing his sentiment: “There will be posterity that wants it.” It felt as though those words were meant for me. He was fortunate that his first wife kept a diary, and I can only imagine the range of emotions those memories evoked when he read them. We are privileged that he chose to share these recollections—they offer a fascinating glimpse into another era. Thank you, Len, for your dedication in posting them on your blog.
Thank you, Duane. Best wishes on your personal journal endeavor.
Thank you, Len! What a wonderful Christmas gift. 🙂
My pleasure, Carolyn! It was a pleasant surprise for me too!