my grandfather was already 56 years old and had retired from the Navy seven years before.
Born April 1st, 1900, he made his way to sea from the farmland of central Illinois, determined to see the world and live a life of his choosing.
He was embarrassed to tell me about his father who had been a janitor at the high school.
What his life had been like as he grew up was a mystery, but I was proud of my grandfather.
He wanted to see more of the world than his family could offer, he became an officer and hero in a war he hated enough never to answer the questions I asked, and he became my father when my own father left.
