My latest escapade in newbie genealogy research is up at Family Tree Firsts. Hope you enjoy!The picture shown is the most awesome picture of my grandfather. I have loved it from the moment I laid eyes on it. You have to admit grandma got a catch! A few years after this was taken they were married and had 40 wonderful years together before is death in the late 1970s.
My grandfather never gave up boxing. He taught kids at the local YMCA, he taught his kids, and he taught his grandkids. He didn't promote violence, but was a firm believer that if you were threatened you could defend yourself and your family. My dad and his siblings had more than one street fight growing up, including his little sister, but grandpa had one rule. You never start a fight, but once you are in it you fight to win it. Those were the ways of the street when you lived on the wrong side of the tracks in rural southern Indiana. The grandkids had their fair share of scuffles too. Mainly between the cousins, but as I was the youngest (by almost 10 years) they tended to leave me out of them.
Dad loves to tell the story of my first fight. I was barely walking, and still in diapers. Grandpa played patty cake with me, but our version of patty cake involved correct punching techniques. When grandpa would yell "fight" up my little fits went and I would start jabbing. The story goes that one of my dad’s softball players and her little boy came into the store he owned. She was gushing about what a little boxer her baby was. The boy in questions was 6 months older than me and a head taller. My dad says he toddled over to me, and said fight. So I punched him in the nose. Dad did his best not to laugh.
Brilliant post Shannon - I left a comment over at the post site.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I am so glad that you are enjoying both blogs. The last 4 months have been an experince. One I am so happy to have, and having the best time doing.
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