When my Brother Joe told Dad, (Irish) that he was going to study law; Dad said, "We won't hold it against you."
(Joe graduated from George Washington in law with high honors, and is extremely successful !)
When my Brother Jack told Dad that he was going to study to become a Methodist Minister; Dad said "Good, now I might have a chance of getting into heaven."
When I told Dad that Tom was going to take me to the movies; Dad said,"Oh no, doesn't Tom have
enough troubles?" (Tom had about 6 younger brothers and sisters and no Father in sight.)
(Tom worked for Dad.)
When Aunt Eleanore ask Dad if he was going to send his girls to college, Dad said, "What and make
the same mistake your Dad made with you?"
Dad owned the Mobile Gas Station on the River when I was growing up. There was a regular
bunch of kibitzers that hung out there.
If one of the kids came in with shaggy hair, the tease was, "What's the matter, Did your barber die?"
If he comes back with a hair cut..."What, did you get your ears lowered?"
There was always Monday Morning Quater-Backing. Bob Reynolds was a regular; His nick-name
was "Fearless". I called him" Fearless" for years, until he told me not to call him that anymore. I said O.K. but I said, "You first have to tell me how you got the name, "Fearless". He said, "I never wanted to
play football, but they talked me into it. It was one of the first plays of the game, I caught the ball,
these big guys were running after me, so I ran it into the side-lines so I wouldn't get tackled." I quit football.
But the name stuck.
One braggart came in regularly bragging about what great gas mileage he got on his car. I think it was my
Uncle Jerry Johnson, that worked for Dad, got the idea, that when the braggart was inside bragging
on his car, Jerry would add a little more gas to the braggarts gas tank. This joke went on for quite a
long time before it was found out. A great laugh was had by all.
Another regular drove a "souped-up muscle car and when he left, he gunned the motor and peeled out-
tires squealing. So Uncle Jerry, while the hot -rodder talked, jacked the back tires up--just a little,
so when he went to peel out, his tires just spun. A Big laugh for all the regulars.
Gas was .19 Cents a gallon then. (1959) The attendants washed the wind-shields and the head-
lights, checked the oil and the water and called the regulars by name and ask about their family.
