S is for Surprise

 

PT’s 91 Years of Wisdom

This year, I had a terrible time trying to figure out what my A-Z theme would be.  I finally decided that this year, I would honor my beloved 91 year old grandfather, Paul Titus, or PT as his friends called him, who passed away on February 8th.  He lived a wonderfully full life and was always trying to challenge my brothers and me to think out of the box.  So for this challenge I thought I would share little bits of his wisdom that he tried to bestow upon us.  

But I also want to highlight the wonderful bloggers in this community who have published their books.  So everyday, I will give a quick  shout out to those works with titles beginning with the letter of the day.  

Gramps and Alyssa at her skating competition

Gramps didn't talk too much about his childhood other than those stories that all older people tell of walking barefoot uphill both directions through the snow to school everyday.  But there was one story that he loved to tell everyone he knew. Every time he told it, he laughed so hard tears streamed down his cheeks.

In the 1930s the Great Depression was at its worst in America.  One summer during that time, when Gramps was about 9, he and his friends went out in the woods to explore.  They caught a number of little garter snakes  and decided they could use the skins and maybe even make some money.  So they cleaned them.  But now they needed a way to tan the hides.  If they left the skins outside another animal might carry them off.  

One of the boys suggested they do it in an oven.  They all agreed that was the best way. So they scurried off to someone’s house, whose mother was not at home, and turned the oven on low.  They laid the snake skins in and closed the oven door.  Then they went back outside to play in the boy’s yard while they waited.  

They were busy playing stick ball when a scream pierced the air.  They ran into the house to find the boy’s mother looking in her oven.

Now for the "S" shout outs!

Elle Strauss

Jessica Bell

Michael Offut

M. Pax

Elana Johnson

Have a super "S" day! And check here for all the other great entries!

Kathy :)