My Dad's Reflections, upon Turning Fifty

My dad - Curtis Claunch Gillespie, Jr. - wrote this out on sketch pad in 1980 when he was fifty years old.  Note the references to Chapel Hill and the Gator Bowl of 1949. 

Reflections 

As I approach my own half century the reflections are awesome, vivid, and lovely – Why the reflections at this age – maybe fear, joy, or what? Am I afraid to pass this milestone – King of my Grammar School – the Jewish girl who could beat me up but love me – The fights as a twelve year old – Columbia and Woodrow Street – Hand, Dreher – Pawley’s Island – Drinking White Doves Beer at Davis’s – Falling off the back of the pavilion – The cashmere sweaters and pegged pants – Knocking down the door at the girl’s house party – I was bad but I guess normal – The Dark Horsemen, my girls, Woody’s Band at the Jefferson – The Parkway ??? - The Green Derby – The Cotton Patch – the Citadel & that beautiful redhead – My roommate pissing in the middle of the quadrangle & getting kicked out of school – the wonderful years at UNC – The Frat House – My brothers, many of whom are dead now – the Bowl games – The Gator  Bowl in ’49 which will never be topped – The Air Force -  My love for Maurine - our marriage   Denver - St. Louis – Our beautiful children in the 50’s – The Little League teams – The troubles and trials of growing children – My careers mostly successful – My art which I loved – The rest seems to glide by to now – Why am I scared – These reflections make it passable (?) so maybe instead of fear I should look forward to The second half – It could be the best of all – But of all these reflections the thing that made me the happiest were my father, my mother, my wife, my children, all individuals with different personalities and goals – I am sensitive and meditative about these people who I love so much – I have not given enough – But I am me – maybe I can reflect again when I approach 75 – The only regrets I really have is that I have not been able to love enough for I have so much in me

CCG

My dad died suddenly in a freak accident in June of 1989. He was 59. He never got to have those reflections he wanted to have approaching 75. He would have been 75 in 2005. 

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Letter from My Garndmother Nanny, October 1975, from Columbia to Clemson

I was in my attic a couple of weeks ago looking for something for a yard sale and came across a big box of letters - hundreds if not thousands of letters from family and friends from about 1975 to 1979. I miss real letters. E-mail, text, voice mail, cell phones just don't match the intimacy and permanency of a handwritten letter.

"Nanny" was my grandmother on my dad's side (older, younger, younger still). I was closer to her than my own parents for most of my high school and college years. I normally visited her every Sunday. She gave the best back rubs on planet earth!

It's funny in a way that she tried so hard to teach me good handwriting skills yet hers was barely legible! I always chuckle about that. She tried. Handwriting was the only thing I ever made a "C" in!

Here is the translation - a little slice of life from 1975.

Dearest Joe:

I sure do miss you this weekend - I thought maybe you would come dropping in for a few minutes & give me a big hug. Understood you had a date Sat. afternoon- Hope it was fun- It was really a beautiful day and fun to be out in the yard a while in the afternoon- listened to the game over radio for a while, then went to the laundry about 4 30.

How are things going with you at school? is it hard (your studies)? Got home a little early and saw my new neighbors, the Wesson's (the ones I introduced you to) had a fire in the grill out back- raised the window and asked if they were cold, and they said no, come on over, we have a half (over)

bushel of oysters we are going to roast and asked me to join them- Charlie said he surely was glad to meet you, and hoped he could get to know you and see you more- the oysters were delicious, he roasted them like they do in Charleston, cracked them open, and Sue (his wife) had made a salad and we ate oysters right out of the shell - dipped them in butter and lemon juice and I sho' did like them - staid over there until 8:30 - began to get cold, & came home. It was fun.

Am enclosing a little check for something you want to do, or something to eat, like a steak, maybe - I love you & miss you a lot.

See you soon, I hope - a big hug and a kiss, Nanny

Ettamae sends her love

Letter from Daddy Fall 1975 Columbia to Clemson

This is an interesting insight into daily life circa early fall 1975 I think. "Harry" was my roommate 1975-1976 (Harry Lancaster, who now lives in Charlotte). I have no idea who the black quarterback would be in 1975. Steve Fuller started that year as a freshman.

I will do some research on the other football schedules and verify the year.

My dad owned a business called "Gillespie Cleaners," hence the letterhead.

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