Thursday, June 26, 2008

Granpa


My paternal grandfather died on November 3, 2000. He was 2 years short of his 100th birthday, which he was looking very forward to since he would have received a letter from the Queen of England. Apparently the Queen sends letters to all citizens who reach their centennial. I think Grandpa's dream was flawed, since he was actually a British born American citizen. No one ever argued with him. The day was also significant since it was my brother's 29th birthday. I mourned Grandpa's death and celebrated my brother's birthday in my boyfriend's apartment in London. A wonderful book about death and grandfathers is the book above. John Burningham writes about very real people, sometimes a little wickedly. I like those kinds of stories.

My grandfather came to America with his mother and other siblings when he was quite young. He started college at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, but had to leave to support his parents. He took classes at Harvard Extension and worked at the former newspaper Boston Herald-Traveler as a typesetter. The paper later became the current Boston Herald, one of the trashiest tabloid papers around. I wouldn't exactly call in journalism. In the late 70's he worked for the Boston Globe, before the paper started computerized printing. I am telling you this because I read this week that the Boston Herald is laying off up to 160 employees this summer, and outsourcing its printing. It reminds me that every time you pick up a paper, remember that somebody once made it beyond writing the words down. Every time you eat a piece of fruit, someone has picked it. Once everything is outsourced in the world, where will we be? Another piece of family history that seems all the more important to me. I miss my grandfather. I wish I knew him more. I just didn't have enough time.

Another mystery I want to solve is this: what is eating my cilantro, and what can I do to deter it? I want it all to myself. My lettuce is getting consumed too.

4 comments:

CBK said...

Really, how much money are they going to save laying of 160 people? I understand when companies lay off thousands, but 160? Maybe I should read the article to find out. ;-)

White Hot Magik said...

Your grandfather sounded interesting. I was lucky to get to know my grandparents so well. 99 is amazing, no one in our family has made it that long.

I am not sure what like cilantro. Is it all gone like an animal or bits and pieces like a bug?

Hyperher said...

I think it is a bug. They are eating the dahlias an sunflowers too, but not the sweet annie. I sprayed dishwater on them, trying to avoid chemicals...

Malathionman said...

I definately think you should spray CHEMICALS!

Hey! What the hell is this sending Nora knitted things! I got a little girl that likes that kind of thing! :)