Granpop worked at Northrop Aviation during World War II. He arguably made the best pancakes, bacon and eggs….that have ever been produced by mankind. When you are four years old…..you know a few things: (1) You know who your mommy or/and daddy is….if you have them and (2) You know who your grandpop and grandma are….usually on your mother’s side…..if they are still living. Granpop worked on two special aircraft….one was called the P-61 Black Widow, twin engine Fighter/Bomber…that was first delivered to the Army/Air Force in 1943! Granpop was a plumber by trade and did a lot of work turning threads on pipe…..through which electrical cords and connectors and that pipe fitting – made the planes fly.
Starting sometime in during World War II…Northrop was also working on the very hush hush XB-49 Flying Wing…the pre-cursor you might say of the our current day Stealth Bombers F-117 Fighters and the famous B-2 Bomber that our good friend former Congressman Bob Dornan…was known for strongly supporting. Granpop, was very proud to be a part of that Flying Wing program which sadly did end quite badly. In 1949, an XB-49 and crew of five test pilots were lost in Muroc Desert and even after retrofitting and making changes to the XB-49 Flying Wing, there were problems and lost lives…the Air Force canceled the project in 1951. Granpop was broken hearted about the demise of the Flying Wing and in 1952 he retired.
Grandpop continued to talk about Yankee baseball and still made excellent pancakes or sometimes when we were lucky – incredible Pork Chops! He talked a lot about Democrats and Republicans….he talked about how good FDR was as a President and that Harry Truman came from the same part of St. Louis, Missouri that his mom and grandma did. He talked about how Truman was supported by the Pendergast Machine in St. Louis. He talked about why we had to go to war with North Korea…and support the UN. He talked about how Jackie Robinson was not good for Major League Baseball. He talked about getting his Social Security….of $68 dollars a month!
We never knew, but we think Granpop voted for Adlai Stevenson rather than “Ike”….he never told us. Grandma Gerti voted for “Ike” though! Grandma Gerti continued to work at the Spouse-Ritz dime store in Venice…until 1955 before she retired too! It was tough to make it on their Social Security and so that had to go take care of a rich maiden aunt in Tucson, Arizona for three years. The Aunt wound up leaving her fortune to her nurse of 10 years, but did leave Grandma and Grandpop about $10,000 bucks…when the aunt died…which was pretty big money for 1960! They bought a new 1960 “California Special” Comet Caliente and paid off their modest little home in Palm Desert.
As I drove cross country on my way back to Newport Beach from Ft. Dix, New Jersey and my Advance Infantry Training in December of 1967…I stopped by to visit with Grandma and Grandpop in Palm Desert. I stayed over night, slept on the couch. Granpop made those delicious pancakes that next morning..and they were delicious as usual. Granpop said: “So, Ronnie Boy…want to stay tonight and I’ll make Pork Chops!” “No, Granpop..would really love to….but I need to get home to see mom and dad.” I replied!
Granpop died the next year, while I was still in the Army and so I never got to taste those fantastic Pork Chops ever again!
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As we take in the events of 2008 and this election cycle…..perhaps we all should just step back and remember what is truly important in our lives and take stock of what is truly meaningful. Life is a fleeting endeavor…and our social/political choices can greatly affect all of us. We are all faced with a series of ethnic bigotry, racism, petty jealousy, criminal and inconsiderate behavior by others and worst of all….a burning desire to point all of that out. How much good that does….is sometimes debateable!
The victims of Hurricaine Ike, Hanna and Gustav, the 25 who died yesterday on the MetroLink in Chatsworth and perhaps 40 more at risk, the daily greed of the super rich, the daily cruelty and shooting deaths of small children by gang members in our neighborhoods…..all beg the question:
“Want some Pork Chops?”
Smithsonian quality, as always. Thank you.