by Clark Gee

2 August, 2000

Family legend has it that both Grandpa and Grandma Gee first became school teachers. I can recall that when I was in first grade, Grandma taught third grade, so I know that there is some truth to this rumor. I also know it to be fact from the many lessons they taught their grandchildren throughout the years. Once a teacher, I suppose, always a teacher. Of course, we all teach by the example of what we do. Here are a few lessons I have learned from observing Grandpa and Grandma:

Cooking

Bananas and Vanilla Wafers go together, as do Angel Food cake and strawberries. New potatoes and fresh peas are best wedded in a cream sauce. Sugar can be kept loose in a drawer. Marshmallows may be commingled in the same drawer as sugar without fear of intermarriage. Raspberries are best served fresh with sugar and half and half. Roast beef need not be served rare. Garage-made ice cream is not only good, but also great, even if it isn't chocolate. Orange rind is actually edible when grated into rolls. Lander water is better than Lemoore water, even after three days in a Thermos. Too many green apples can make one sick. And finally, presentation is not everything. I recall being very put out at the age of four when Grandpa did not cut my French toast into nice neat squares but in a willy-nilly fashion with his fork. This is probably when I first heard the phrase: "It all gets mixed up in your stomach."

Work

If I have learned to appreciate work to any degree, I'm sure that Grandpa bears some measure of the blame, although he did his best to turn me from it. Those summer days spent forcing his lawnmower forward through the thick grass were oh so long and hot and tiresome, I thought for certain that they must have been designed to sour my attitude toward manual labor. The lilac bushes at the end of the yard looked like distant trees on the sand hills north of town as the mower reluctantly crawled toward them. At times I thought I would never reach them, but I would and somehow the mower turned around to go back and make the trip again. Then Dad built his office. This taught me that there are many advantages to investing in real estate.

Perhaps if I had borrowed one of Grandpa's pith helmets it would have been different. It would then have been adventures in mowing -- an expedition to the lilac bushes and back. That must have been Grandpa's secret, the pith helmet. He always worked long hours in the yard and in his large garden and he never complained or seemed to suffer because of the hard work under the hot sun. Come to think of it, I could use one of those helmets in Phoenix.

Frugality (Fiscal Patience)

The stories that have been handed down about Grandpa and Grandma Gee teach lessons of self-reliance and thrift, but their house is the best lesson in my opinion. One can easily see, once told what to look for, that their little house started out very little indeed - two rooms that everyone admits was a shack. I am told that it had no indoor plumbing. Having lived through Lander's winters, I can't imagine the ordeal of using the facilities. Such an arrangement would certainly discourage indecision about one's needs and would freeze the daydreamer in his tracks.

Through patience and thrift and industry Grandpa and Grandma made their little shack ever larger until it had two bathrooms and seven other rooms, including a sewing room for Grandma. I try to think of that when I confront grumbling about the inadequacy of my own home.

Books

There were always lots of books at Grandpa and Grandma's house: books for kids, encyclopedias, books with no pictures, and church books. I remember reading the kids books in the study as a child. Cowboy Andy was one of my favorites. At least I think that was his name. He took the train from the city to stay with relatives and learn to be a cowboy. I was like cowboy Andy. I'd left the big city to come to Wyoming. I would learn to be a cowboy too. I remember shopping with Grandma to buy me some cowboy gear. I think she even got me a red bandana like cowboy Andy. And I know that in fourth grade I got boots to be just like Grandpa. It all started with books.

Grandpa also had a large collection of church books. I recall people coming to borrow them. I learned that they were important to him. Perhaps that is why I have learned to make them important in my life.

Service

It seemed that when I was younger that we would go to Grandpa and Grandma's house almost every Sunday for dinner. Very often they would have invite other guests. To me these other guests seemed not only strange, but also a little odd to my childish mind. Frequently these guests would be struggling new converts or visitors from out of town. I didn't think it was too neat at the time, but it taught me by example to be kind to all, and especially those for whom we do not have a natural affinity.

Faith

There was never any question about what Grandpa and Grandma believed and how deeply they felt about it. I recall when I was five and we lived in Salt Lake that Grandpa and Grandma would come down for General Conference and Grandpa would set up his portable television set so that we could all watch conference. Grandpa always seemed to be there whenever we would go to General Priesthood Meeting and he always took notes on the back of computer punch cards. I often wonder what happened to those notes. Did he read them again later? Did he go home and write up a report about the meeting he attended? I suppose I will never know. But one thing I did know was that nobody else I knew ever took notes in church meetings. So that act alone taught me that what was being said was important, even if I didn't think so at the time.

On a personal and serious note, may I express my gratitude for two great grandparents whom I admire and respect greatly.