Nana and Grandpa Boo – Memoir Continued

I can see them both in my mind, but don’t remember much about their personalities or habits. One thing that I do remember, important to their descendants, is that they were both diabetic and had to take insulin to control it. Sorry, but that seems to be part of our genetics. So far, I haven’t felt its effects.

They both died as a result of a car accident, while on vacation in Wyoming in 1957. I think it was their first vacation after Grandpa’s retirement. He died in the crash, and Nana died a few days later. I went to Grandpa’s funeral. It was my first. At ten years old, it left quite an impression on me. I didn’t go to Nana’s; too much, too soon.

Aunt Ruth was also in that wreck, but she survived. As their youngest and still living at home, she accompanied them on vacation. Ruth was driving when the accident occurred. I don’t know most of the details, but what I do know is that one of the tires blew out, causing the accident.

Nana and Grandpa Boo were buried side-by-side in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, the large cemetery on the outskirts of Lorain. We used to visit their graves as a family during my teen years. But I haven’t been there since; not sure that I could even find their graves now.

To be Continued

–LE