Sci Fi Story

I haven't posted much on the two flower theme in a while, so I thought I'd write a variation on it. I had three grand fathers, which sounds difficult, but read on and I shall enlighten you. Two were soldiers during World War 2, and one stayed on the homefront. I don't know where to begin, so I'll just start with what my Uncle Paul once said in my presence. "I love the way your Grandfathers changed their names. Its like playing football with your names." My paternal Grandfather was named Eugene, but didn't like the name. He changed it to Earl. My maternal Grandfather was named Robert, but he thought it too common. He changed his name to Eugene.

I never knew my paternal grandfather. He died in the late 40's or early 50's. My father being the oldest child took his place for a while. Dad was a surrogate father for his siblings. He taught them, and played with them, and guided them. He was proud of them, and I think this helped him to become the awesome Dad that he was. Earl was killed by doctor's (maybe why I fear them). They said it was a heart disease called Congestive Heart Failure, but they had injected the element Mercury into his lungs. Mercury, the extremely toxic element was a quick fix for the short term, but hastened my grandfather's death. Earl never went to WWII, instead he took care of his family, and I think my Father said he was a block master for homeland security. This meant he made sure that the neighbors were properly blacking out their windows, and probably some other tasks.

My maternal grandfather Eugene was an amazing man. I had the honor of interviewing him for an assignment for English in college. Grandpa Gene grew up on a farm in Wisconsin not far from the small city where Earl grew up. There was a small rutted road leading out past the house. He told me about the first time he ever saw a car was when it passed by on this bumpy buggy road meant for carts and carriages. He was an entertainer, and performed in the midwest singing in blackface. He learned many things, and I could never tell you all of them. He was in the Navy in WWII. He would only tell me some stories, not wanting to relive the others. He was on a small craft, I'm not sure if it was a PT boat. He told me how he once saw JFK when he was an officer on a PT boat in the pacific. He also told me how most officers were a-holes, and that I should never become one. Grandpa Gene was a traveller, and travelled around the world with his wife, Anna Mae. I think part of my desire to travel was inspired by their travels to Europe and Korea.

My Father's Mother re-married a man named Francis. Francis was Italian by birth and immigrated to the US at a young age. He enlisted after Pearl Harbor, and because of his fluent Italian and English he was made a First Sergeant in the Army. He told me that he never went overseas, but instead was training soldiers somewhere out east. Frank came back from the military, and worked for Colgate. He married my Grandmother Marion, and would be one of the first persons to teach me a foreign language. Frank taught me small bits of Italian, and also some Russian. He also taught me about stocks at a young age. He showed me how the market fluctuated, and also about brand loyalty. I still buy Colgate products today as per his advice. I loved this Step-Grandfather, just as I loved my Grandpa Gene. They were both intelligent, kind, and compassionate. I was very fortunate to have them both in my life.

Toodles, B