Grandparents:
My grandmother die when i was 5 and my only memory of her was the funeral as she laid to rest in the house and i was too scare to go in the room and see her.
Grandfather, i played a bunch of canasta with him, loved cowboy shows and he die when i was 11.
My other two, only memory is of going to there home a few times.
All four came from the old country and homestead. For the most part the only memory is either hand me down or on paper. I feel i missed a lot and really needed guidance to understand the purpose of grandparents when i was young.
Wife never knew her dad's parents but spent a lot of time with her mom's mom.
Had five kids. They never knew their mom's parents and i try to get them together with my parents but in the end i feel they were short change.
Have 10 grandkids. Oldest i have not seen in 15 years but the other 9 are in our life big time. Just drove 3 hours one way to see 7 volley ball matches and this Thursday another 3 hours one way to see a junior varsity foot ball game. Try to go every week to see them for whatever.
Youngest lives close by and we babysit one day a week. Got to see him learn to roll over, crawl, wave goodbye and am sure we will see him take his first step.
Two granddaughters wanted to hunt. Bought the rifles, bows and sat with them on their first kill. Greatest memory is when one shot her first deer with the bow. We sat in the stand, dark and i left the video on. Started talking about what just happen and life. It is all on tape.
No, we will not move to where they are at but they will know both of us well and will heard the stories. I have been telling them about there great and great-great grandparents as best i can. Also telling those stories to my kids.
Our kids were in every activity offer by the school, after school, 4-H, FFA, girl scouts, boy scouts and whatever the community had to offer. Did a lot of camping with the kids and friends. A trip of some kind every summer around the US and Canada.
Money tree. We never had time to chase that tree as we were too busy chasing our kids.
Did a balance sheet every year. At age 30 the net worth was a touch over $2,000. Started a new job at $800 take home per month, wife part time including babysitting for $25 for one kid and $45 for two kids each week. In time it got better. Besides the part time, wife was able to stay at home somewhat and be there when the kids went to school and came home.
By 50 years of age the net worth did reach $100,000.
By age 66 the kids were gone, debt was paid off. Started to receive SS check, wife got one based on my SS and the army stated paying some for an injury in Nam.
At that age i decide to be concern with the money tree. Was able, with those funds plus salary, to put $6,000 each month into a savings account for the next 7 years and retire at age 73. This is the bulk of our cash. During that time bought my Dodge, wife got her first new car, a Buick, and built a shop for my stuff. Junk quit working and income tax took about 25% of that savings.
Been retire for the last two years and have lived on that income of SS and the army. In fact the cash has grown somewhat after buying a $7,000 camper, $4,000 in lawn equipment (nice to ride versus pushing), $1,500 in two muzzle loaders, wife trip to Hawaii with the two daughters and granddaughter. Paid her own way and the grandkid. Next month she is going to New Orleans with a daughter and then in the spring to Myrtle Beach with some family.
Me, well corn was $3.50 per bushel and is now 8 dollars per bushel. Cut down to four feeders but it is getting expensive. Hope to paint my 77 cutlass next summer. Put in new audio, forward rake, new rims and pipes now are not loud by sound comes with authority.
So maybe the money tree when we were young and then quit working in the fifities would of been great. Then spent that time together for the two of us and take a bunch of trips by our selves. Naw, it was just great the way it was. Yes, we have had our fair share of issues.
Memories and family and monies helps but we did not need a money tree when we were raising a family. Just wish my grandparents would of been a bigger part of my life.
So to each there own and do not let life slip you by. db
