Granddad reflects on his memories at the end of Tape 2.

Tape 2 continues with stories of the depression, Daddy’s work in New Mexico and sacrifices for the family, Bertha and Lefty, selling shoes with Bertha, the old man Kaplan, Bertha and Daddy’s songs, running with Frankie, Russell’s boats, Leafy drinking blackberry wine and crackin’ nails, and Bertha jumping into bed, throwing out dough, and having raw eggs. Granddad continues with stories of being lowered into the well, holding the chisel, fixing the wireline, making strawberry preserves and hot chocolate, running away from home, Jackie’s dress, his frock tail coat, going down to the dam, and going fishing.

Tape 2 kicks off with a couple of unfortunate emergencies and stories of Fram, food coloring, and the old farmer. Granddad then shares memories of working at DuPont, including the ones about zipper troubles, mouse holes, the big shutdown, John’s toolbox and crescent wrench, and the ladder incident. Side A of Tape 2 ends with the bull nettle and fishing hook stories.

Granddad continues Tape 1 with his memories from school, including Mr. Tips’ lesson, playing with junebugs, math with Mr. Weeks, Howard’s motorcycle, football, phonetics with Ms. Fortney, and his friends Buddy Gillis and Harry Brown. He also tells stories of scufflin’ with Daddy, the times Daddy subjected his children to cold water and snow, the time Daddy subjected himself to the outdoors toilet, and the times Mother cooked everyone a good, hot breakfast in the snow. Tape 1 ends with the story of meeting Evelyn Gunn and the story of the cable tool rig.

Granddad begins Tape 1 with his parents’ stories of Granddad’s horse, the buggy and the barn, blackberry wine, stories of various animals, Grandmother Thornbrugh’s glasses, and ice cream. He continues with stories of his own childhood, including memories of going to Oklahoma, the bee in Daddy’s britches, memories of Granddad James and Granddad Thornbrugh, Frankie and the peppers, and getting a beer.

In this short introduction to Tape 1, Granddad recounts his family tree.