Friday, January 7, 2011

Photo-Finish Friday -- Cranmer Family Chronicles

My grandfather, Fred Cranmer, was born in 1904 and passed away shortly before his birthday in 1993 at the ripe old age of eighty-nine. He loved a good joke, fishing, Murder, She Wrote, dandelion wine, and the music of Loretta Lynn.

In the photo (from left to right) is Grandpa, the young geeky pulp writer, and my dad.

He would have been 107 today. Happy birthday, Grandpa.

PFF is the creation of Leah J. Utas.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

19 comments:

Leah J. Utas said...

Great pic, David. I bet he's very proud of you.

David Barber said...

Happy Birthday indeed!! Thanks for another little look into your life, David.

P.s. Nice 'fro brother!! ;-)

David Cranmer said...

Very nice comment, Leah. Thanxs.

David, Some thick hair but there is a part to the side somewhere.

David Cranmer said...

Btw I'm looking at that pic thinking of the old Polaroid days. Film was expensive and you didn't do to many re-takes. Geez, I could have used a digital.

David Barber said...

Thing is though, David, Polaroids gave great character to a photo! With digital now you can take one after the other until you get the perfect shot....if there is a perfect shot.

Love it, mate!!

pattinase (abbott) said...

My grandmother, born in 1903, would have been 108 this week (4th). Happy Birthday to a real "lady."

Chris said...

Happy birthday, indeed.

David Cranmer said...

I can do without character, Dave. Look at that shot I ruined above! :)

Patti, My math was off. I changed my post. He would be 107 today.

Thanks, Chris.

Evan Lewis said...

Wish I had a pic like that. Never knew my grandfathers.

Laurie Powers said...

Great pic, Dave. I bet he's proud of his pulp writing grandson.

Evan, that's too bad. Makes me grateful for the time I had with mine and what they left behind.

Mates said...

looking at the hair, I'd say you have zero chance of being bald.
What a nice photo to have for your children. Love Ya.

David Cranmer said...

Evan, Thankfully my grandparents had longevity in their bones or I would have missed them as well.

I hope so, Laurie.

Mates, But the bald gene is on the mother's side, right? I could be in trouble.

Randy Johnson said...

Nice photo. I'm not sure about that bald gene. Looking at all the males on my mother's family(two brothers and her father), the two uncles are thin almost to non-existence. Yet here I am at sixty-one with it all there, albeit I wear it close-cropped these days.

On the other side, I've seen pictures of my dad in his mid-twenties with the old horse shoe around his head.

Me. just lucky I guess.

AC said...

Looking at your dad and your grand-dad in this photo, I'm thinking you didn't get away with too many shenanigans as a kid.

Also, if you're gonna go bald, you'd know it by now.

Reb said...

Wonderful photo. I agree with Leah, he is probably very proud of you. Don't worry about going bald, it doesn't have the shame attached like it used to. Besides, it is rather freeing ;) (of course, I knew mine would come back, that might have had something to do with it)

Unknown said...

Great pic, Dave. If it wasn't for family and the history that surrounds them, I wouldn't be writing. They influence us till we meet the dirt.

David Cranmer said...

Randy, "The old horse shoe." Ha. I don’t believe I have heard it put that way. Well, good for us.

AC, Lots of love but strict guidelines.

Reb, Not worried. Like AC said above if it was going to happen it would before 40. I'm glad yours recovered.

Well put, Frank.

Ron Scheer said...

Little slow on the draw for Friday. Hope you get this. A pic of yourself with dad and granddad, and you don't look like some pissant kid who'd rather be anywhere else? Be proud of all 3 of you.

I knew my granddads, but they were both such silent men, I can't say I *really* knew them. That list of your grandfather's favorite things speaks a lot about the man he was to you. What a treasure.

Of course, you know that.

David Cranmer said...

Very kind words, Ron. Thank you.