Sam and Eilleen, My Grandparents

Eilleen and Sam Gish in their garden 1960s: they were featured in a local newspaper

Grandma and Grandpa Gish seemed old for as long as I can remember, though they were only in their sixties. But I loved visiting them on weekends and for that golden week each summer when I could pretend I was an only child and the center of attention, instead of the oldest of three kids. They lived in a retirement community in Hemet, CA. When I stayed with them I fell into their daily routines. Grandpa got up early for his morning walk or bike ride around the trailer park. We had a nice breakfast with a stack of buttered toast, eggs or oatmeal. There were plenty of water breaks throughout the day as it was hot in Hemet. Grandpa in his quiet, joking way called water, "soup" as in, "that's some good soup!" They took me swimming in the community pool, full of old ladies in their flowered swim caps and skirted bathing suits. I loved going on the water slide that arced down to splash into the water. Soap operas, my Grandma's "stories" -- with dramatic storylines of unfaithful spouses, murders, and unexpected turns of events -- every afternoon followed by an afternoon nap for everyone in the heat of the day. An early dinner, often "Shake and Bake" chicken (healthier than fried chicken!), and an evening walk or bike ride. Cereal on TV trays watching Lawrence Welk or other "old people" shows before bed to help us make it through the night before we started again.

Grandma and Grandpa loved their garden. Even on the small scale of their trailer lot, they kept roses, and well-maintained plants along with a lot of little statues. They had a bulldog statue that Grandpa named "Butch" who watched over the place, and a Grecian-style goddess he called, "Big Suzy." Grandma took advantage of classes offered at the community center, gifting everyone in the family with ceramics: hearts painted to commemorate wedding dates and births, coffee mugs painted with flowers and birds. Most important of all, Grandma and Grandpa loved each other and their family: two daughters and their husbands, four grandkids, along their own brothers and sisters. Grandpa always referred to Grandma as his "Little Lady." At about 5'4", Grandma was petite to Grandpa's 6' frame.

They told fascinating stories about their life before retirement. They were far from sedate. Next blog we'll take a look at how they met and their early years.