Thinking about Grandpa

[susandennis]

My maternal grandparents were each born in Texas. (My grandfather was born and raised in a German community in Texas and did not learn English until he went to school.) Early in the marriage, after the birth of their two children, they moved to Oklahoma City. And many many many years later, they died in Edmond, al city on the edge of Oklahoma City.

But, for one brief moment - less than a year, actually - they lived in Tacoma, WA.

Grandpa was a sweetheart but not a strong man. He worked for H. Dorsey Douglas Office Stationer. I don't know what he did exactly but he put on his suit and hat and carpooled to work every day. I do remember his grumbling about office stuff. He also was not a happy man. He had massive eye problems and headaches but he soldiered on.



At one point, in the 40's he made a change. They had lost their first born. Billy was killed in France in World War II. His younger sister, my Mom, has left home for collage and the rest of her life.

And a papermill that Grandpa worked with at Douglas's offered him a job. In Tacoma, Washington. They sold their house and packed up the car and drove away to the edge of the country.

But it didn't take. In less than a year, they were back in Oklahoma City and he was back at H. Dorsey Douglas where he worked until he retired.

He was not a strong man but he was a fabulous grandpa. We never lived in Oklahoma City or really even near there. We visited often until we moved to North Carolina in 1955 and only got there for summer visits.

But, he built us a roller coaster in his back yard for those times when we did visit. This is the only photo I have of it. Me (in the back) and my sister ridin' down the tracks he built. What marvelous times we had on that thing.



All of this comes to mind today because the papermill he worked for in Tacoma is still there. It's been sold and sold and sold again but now it's closing down for good.

Comments

[kaishin108]

Sweet memories!

[carriea31]

Wow, what a fun thing to have--- your own rollercoaster as a child! Sounds like a good guy :)

[halfmoon_mollie1]

How lucky you were to have such a Grandpa.

[meowmensteen]

They can't close that paper mill down. That's what gives Tacoma its aroma.

[adafrog]

Sounds like a great grandpa. Very neat roller coaster.
Do you remember what town he was in in Texas. There are at least two little towns that I know of that still at least celebrate Oktoberfest.

[siglinde999]

You had your own roller coaster? That’s awesome! What a patient grandpa to have built that for you.

[zoefruitcake]

What kid wouldn't want a rollercoaster like that? So cool

[seasonedrite]

That roller coaster is one of my favorite Susan Dennis memories.

[bill_schubert]

I only knew about half of this. He was also a diabetic. The first person I ever saw inject themselves. Fortunately I got all my genes from the solid Schubert stockpile.

He was great for me too. Got me started watching baseball. I think we were both just cranky on the back porch together. His temperament suited mine.

[susandennis]

And I did not know he was diabetic!! I know Grandma was but I don't think that was until much later.

[mollywheezy]

Your grandpa sounds like my grandma. She also lived in a German community (but in Michigan) and didn't speak English until she started school.

That roller coaster is awesome! :)

[dorchadas]

That is a lovely photo!

How did it stop? Did the tracks just go for long enough that it ran out of steam or was there something padded at the end?

[susandennis]

both really. it usually stopped (ran out of steam) before it got to the bumper at the end.