Make a visit to elderly

A few days ago I visited with my friend Robert K. He is 102 years old, born in 1915. I asked him about his youth in Perry, Okla. He explained that as a 14-year-old boy he made grocery deliveries in a Ford Model T for McCoy’s Grocery. He was driving back before driver’s licenses were required. So what is so new about groceries being delivered to the home today?

Another time we were watching a football game on television. We saw an overhead shot from one of the blimps. He turned to me and said, “I saw the Graf Zeppelin fly over Perry when I was a boy.” Robert also delivered newspapers and had read about the scheduled flyover. He was up at dawn and saw the great airship go directly over Perry. The Graf Zeppelin was the sister ship to the Hindenburg that famously was destroyed by fire while attempting to land in New Jersey.

I researched the history of the Graf Zeppelin and discovered it did take an around-the-world trip in 1929, starting from New Jersey and traveling east to Germany, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and back to New Jersey. On the morning of Aug. 29, 1929, it flew over Perry. I would wager Robert is the last person standing who has this recollection.

He also met Lou Gehrig when a group of ballplayers came though town on a barnstorming tour.

Please take time to visit with the elderly and discover some fascinating stories from their life.

ROBERT J. LAIRD

Magnolia