John W. Aucutt wrote a book "Rancho San Jacinto" about his days as a court reporter. He was very much a Texan. Even though he was very much a Texan, there was nothing in his speech that would indicate it. There was no "southern drawl". He sounded like he came from California which is where they were living when I would go to visit. John wasn't my grandfather, he was the guy my grandma was married to.
As a small child, when I went to visit grandma, I would see him go about his daily routine. His eyes were deep set and very blue under bushy white eyebrows. He would eat his eggs fried in bacon grease (from a can kept on the shelf in the stove), the yolks always runny. Toast was made in an antique toaster (from the 1920's) that the bread would be put in the holder and had to be manually turned around once the current side of the bread was the right color. In the kitchen, beside the old antique stove ca. 1920's (my grandma bought antiques, likely for the investment value) he had his special mirror, mug with his shaving soap and brush to apply it and straight razor that he would sharpen on a strap. For some reason, he would do his shaving in the kitchen and not the bathroom, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to watch him shave. He was in retirement and after he shaved, he would get his game of checkers and go down to the beach to meet with his friend, "Shannon" for some checkers. He had his cowboy boots and his beige cowboy hat he always wore when he went out. They were living in Venice, CA at the property on Vista Ct, 2 blocks from the beach. They also owned the two story rooming house on the lot next to their house on Vista Ct. that was filled with their tenants.
One of the other things I remember him doing is going into the bathroom for a hot, hot bath while grandma would prepare the bed, lining it with a plastic shower curtain for John to crawl under for his "sweat bath". This could be the reason he lived to be over 100. Neither of them drank or smoked. They didn't own a car either. Grandma would take a bus when she needed to go shopping. Saturdays meant a trip to the bakery for donuts and bread.
As a small child, when I went to visit grandma, I would see him go about his daily routine. His eyes were deep set and very blue under bushy white eyebrows. He would eat his eggs fried in bacon grease (from a can kept on the shelf in the stove), the yolks always runny. Toast was made in an antique toaster (from the 1920's) that the bread would be put in the holder and had to be manually turned around once the current side of the bread was the right color. In the kitchen, beside the old antique stove ca. 1920's (my grandma bought antiques, likely for the investment value) he had his special mirror, mug with his shaving soap and brush to apply it and straight razor that he would sharpen on a strap. For some reason, he would do his shaving in the kitchen and not the bathroom, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to watch him shave. He was in retirement and after he shaved, he would get his game of checkers and go down to the beach to meet with his friend, "Shannon" for some checkers. He had his cowboy boots and his beige cowboy hat he always wore when he went out. They were living in Venice, CA at the property on Vista Ct, 2 blocks from the beach. They also owned the two story rooming house on the lot next to their house on Vista Ct. that was filled with their tenants.
One of the other things I remember him doing is going into the bathroom for a hot, hot bath while grandma would prepare the bed, lining it with a plastic shower curtain for John to crawl under for his "sweat bath". This could be the reason he lived to be over 100. Neither of them drank or smoked. They didn't own a car either. Grandma would take a bus when she needed to go shopping. Saturdays meant a trip to the bakery for donuts and bread.
John W. Aucutt wrote a book "Rancho San Jacinto" about his days as a court reporter. He was very much a Texan. Even though he was very much a Texan, there was nothing in his speech that would indicate it. There was no "southern drawl". He sounded like he came from California which is where they were living when I would go to visit. John wasn't my grandfather, he was the guy my grandma was married to.
As a small child, when I went to visit grandma, I would see him go about his daily routine. His eyes were deep set and very blue under bushy white eyebrows. He would eat his eggs fried in bacon grease (from a can kept on the shelf in the stove), the yolks always runny. Toast was made in an antique toaster (from the 1920's) that the bread would be put in the holder and had to be manually turned around once the current side of the bread was the right color. In the kitchen, beside the old antique stove ca. 1920's (my grandma bought antiques, likely for the investment value) he had his special mirror, mug with his shaving soap and brush to apply it and straight razor that he would sharpen on a strap. For some reason, he would do his shaving in the kitchen and not the bathroom, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to watch him shave. He was in retirement and after he shaved, he would get his game of checkers and go down to the beach to meet with his friend, "Shannon" for some checkers. He had his cowboy boots and his beige cowboy hat he always wore when he went out. They were living in Venice, CA at the property on Vista Ct, 2 blocks from the beach. They also owned the two story rooming house on the lot next to their house on Vista Ct. that was filled with their tenants.
One of the other things I remember him doing is going into the bathroom for a hot, hot bath while grandma would prepare the bed, lining it with a plastic shower curtain for John to crawl under for his "sweat bath". This could be the reason he lived to be over 100. Neither of them drank or smoked. They didn't own a car either. Grandma would take a bus when she needed to go shopping. Saturdays meant a trip to the bakery for donuts and bread.
As a small child, when I went to visit grandma, I would see him go about his daily routine. His eyes were deep set and very blue under bushy white eyebrows. He would eat his eggs fried in bacon grease (from a can kept on the shelf in the stove), the yolks always runny. Toast was made in an antique toaster (from the 1920's) that the bread would be put in the holder and had to be manually turned around once the current side of the bread was the right color. In the kitchen, beside the old antique stove ca. 1920's (my grandma bought antiques, likely for the investment value) he had his special mirror, mug with his shaving soap and brush to apply it and straight razor that he would sharpen on a strap. For some reason, he would do his shaving in the kitchen and not the bathroom, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to watch him shave. He was in retirement and after he shaved, he would get his game of checkers and go down to the beach to meet with his friend, "Shannon" for some checkers. He had his cowboy boots and his beige cowboy hat he always wore when he went out. They were living in Venice, CA at the property on Vista Ct, 2 blocks from the beach. They also owned the two story rooming house on the lot next to their house on Vista Ct. that was filled with their tenants.
One of the other things I remember him doing is going into the bathroom for a hot, hot bath while grandma would prepare the bed, lining it with a plastic shower curtain for John to crawl under for his "sweat bath". This could be the reason he lived to be over 100. Neither of them drank or smoked. They didn't own a car either. Grandma would take a bus when she needed to go shopping. Saturdays meant a trip to the bakery for donuts and bread.
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