What were your grandparents like?


That’s a long story. My mother’s parents disowned her after she married my father. I only met my maternal grandmother once when I was about 10 years old when she came to Las Vegas. She was only visiting my mom to have her sign off on her father’s will.

My grandparents on my fathers side is another story. My real grandfather died before I was born my grandmother was a widow for 14 years when she was remarried. Her new husband married her when I was a baby. Gib was the only grandpa I knew. Grandma and him would come to Vegas at least once a year. This is the man that taught me how to be a good father and grandfather. I still remember being so excited when I knew they were coming to town. I would run home from school so I could be there first before my brothers. My grandpa was always taking me to prize fights and telling me about his trips on the trains he drove. He was an engineer for the Union Pacific railroad. One time I remember I was about 6 years old my mom took me down to the train station to go to my grandmas home. I traveled alone but my grandpa was driving the train and all the conductors knew who I was so I got the VIP treatment I thought I was all grown up going on a trip and all by myself.

The best part of the story is how my grandpa and grandma met. They both went to Leadville high school and dated their junior and senior years. At End of the senior year they had a special dance at school and they were supposed to meet at the dance. Gib ( grandpa ) didn’t show up and grandma was mad at him and would not forgive him. After graduating Gib left town for work. He married and had a good life. Grandma started dating Chuck McKenna and they got married and had 4 boy's. Chuck was a coal miner in the Leadville mines. When my dad was 19 there was an accident at the mine and his father was killed. This left my grandma a widow to raised her boys alone.

Several years later she received a telephone call from Gib ( his wife had passed away ) and he wondered if she would mind meeting him for dinner. The rest is history. I loved my grandpa and grandma they were special people. The day my grandma passed away I was impressed that I needed to call her and tell her I loved her that was the last time I talked to her. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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