Summer Ehrig and Jerry Lawrence

Recorded December 15, 2019 Archived December 15, 2019 38:29 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id: mby019502

Description

Summer Ehrig (25) interviews her grandfather Jerry Lawrence (72) about his upbringing and how he feels about his family's future.

Subject Log / Time Code

SE asks JL what his childhood was like.
SE asks JL how he met his wife.
JL discusses, recollects his daughter and her motorcycles.
SE and JL discuss JL's wedding anniversary being on Groundhog Day.
JL discusses his hopes for his family's future.
SE asks JL what advice he has for folks to stay married.
JL discusses his indigenous heritage.
JL shares wisdom.
JL asks SE how she plans to help her family in the future.
JL discusses her marriage and long lasting love.

Participants

  • Summer Ehrig
  • Jerry Lawrence

Recording Locations

Yuma Art Center

Transcript

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00:02 My name is Summer. Ehrig. My age is 25 today's date is Sunday, December 15th to 2019. The location that we're at is in Yuma Arizona the name of the person I'm interviewing is Jerry Lawrence and he is my grandfather.

00:21 Geodude

00:25 Your name?

00:29 To say if you have to do this work.

00:36 Let's all just this information to say your name Grandpa. My name is Jerry Lawrence 70.

00:48 2

00:51 And then we are in Yuma Arizona, right? Where in Yuma.

01:03 Can you say my name?

01:08 Summer ehrig. Thanks, and I'm a granddaughter granddaughter.

01:15 My my favorite child

01:26 Where did you grow up Sequim Washington in Washington, so did you go to school there High School?

01:38 The folds of the whole time. What was your childhood like

01:44 It was interesting. We were farmers.

01:47 So we were out.

01:50 You're out farming. We were farmers. What did your dad do? What did he do for work for a gas plant? He always took care of all of the equipment for the biggest the gas company.

02:12 And he was in the Army as well, right?

02:17 What was his rank? Remember Sergeant Sergeant? So is that why you wanted to join? The Army is your dad was great grandpa.

02:30 The family was several people that were

02:36 Army yeah, buddy support me in joining the Army.

02:41 Do I do support my decision to join the Army the Army? Yeah, I want to keep it going. Okay. See you grew up in Sequim. So I'm assuming that's where Grandma grew up as well right. So, how did you meet grandma?

03:07 Well, I kind of met her in the Army. I was I was just joined Army.

03:18 She drove.

03:20 She can come over met us when we had to go take offer.

03:25 Or the Army and but you also into you went to school with Grandma in elementary school and high school. So you started dating when you guys were in what grade probably that's right. That's a long time ago. If it is it's over.

03:52 Why do I was 5 years? I can't do math right now. But so when you met grandma and high school you guys were dating throughout High School, right. We did yeah the whole time and she was a cheerleader and you played football.

04:13 So what kind of dates would you guys go on?

04:19 In high school is now a days when people go on dates to go to the movies. I guess they'd I don't know what people do nowadays. But what did you and Grandma used to do old-time River?

04:34 We were pretty young and

04:36 We met at school movies and movies and then what else we went everywhere I go to the beach.

05:00 Yeah.

05:01 All the places fishing in fishing you guys are go fishing, but the things that's right. I've been craving with you once or twice. I remember doing that. I've been Washington so you and Grandma dated in high school and then I believe when you graduated high school, that's when you proposed to her, right?

05:32 Yeah, it was.

05:35 Right quick after graduating. Yeah, you guys really got right into it. Remember how you propose to her?

05:43 I don't even know the story. I don't know how you did it. I had to ask her father old farmer. He had to tease me a lot but they he gave you his Blessing if you did kind of my father was in the Army and he was overseas so I didn't see him for a long time. So then right after your dad's bus and then you asked her to marry her. Where did you guys get married at?

06:25 Write in Sequim right and that we grew up in.

06:31 And everyone was there and Judy Uncle Dale then you guys move down a human, right?

06:46 Or did we go? I don't know. That's that's not right. You guys ended up moving to Longview and then that's when California. Yep, so

07:03 I'm going forward then you eventually started a family with Grandma and you had my mom right? So when he found out that Grandma is pregnant with Mom, what were your initial thoughts? I was very happy.

07:23 Yeah, I'm really excited to have a girl. So how was my mom growing at?

07:31 Mine was fine. We didn't see much of each other cuz I was working and gone. Yeah. Yes. She did. What about in high school?

07:47 The Haven High School I did I don't know whether she did or not.

07:56 Oh, that's funny. Did she play any sports in high school my mom?

08:05 She really didn't play sports. She meant involved in sports. She had horses the right one point.

08:16 Oh after you kids got a little older. Yeah. Yeah motorcycles.

08:24 I see you with a wild Rider on the motorcycle. I was I had a little Honda now. I got a Suzuki 275 75 and through the trees.

08:46 I'm still doing that. I was just crashing all over last weekend.

08:51 Some things never change.

08:56 So

08:58 Then you guys move to Yuma.

09:01 Once my mom graduated from high school. So now we're still in Yuma, right? How do you like living here?

09:13 Yes, I do. I would go back there right away Washington. What is it that you like about Washington so much left on the water fishing camping and Hiking hiking.

09:35 Enjoyed it.

09:37 Yeah, you live there for a very long time. You also lived in Yuma a very long time. We've been here a long time all my life.

09:46 Did 30 years write 30 years in the same House 2?

09:53 MCA

09:57 I know. Can you think back to maybe you're high school memories with Grandma or even most recent memories? What was one of your favorite memories you have with Grandma?

10:08 We've always been together and always just lived our life raising kids.

10:19 Moving moving wherever we had to move to together a long time.

10:28 I believe you been married fifty-three years, but on top of you guys were together and high school. That's another 1961. I think that sounds about right on Groundhog Day. That's how I always remember your anniversary.

10:55 Rummaging through my questions

11:02 So I know we talked in the car a little bit and I describe to you one of my biggest regrets my tattoo, right?

11:11 Who's my biggest regret right now? Cuz I can't join the Army because of it. Do you have any regrets in your life anything? I should change to stay there just a longer. Why did you get out?

11:28 I had to get go to college so I had to get out of the college and then get out of the army to go to school. You can go to school while you're in the army.

11:41 I did.

11:45 Graduated after being in the army.

11:51 Okay.

11:58 Oh, here's a good one. Is there anything you haven't told me that you would want to tell me now?

12:10 Just that we love you and the whole family loves you and that you haven't told Grandma that you would want to tell her.

12:28 Just that I love her and we been together forever.

12:35 You have been together forever. Just you and her no one else. No other women in your life.

12:42 Except for me and my mom and Candice grandma just old grandma.

12:50 So what are your hopes for what the future I'm going to ask you a couple different people. What are your hubs for what the future holds for myself for me?

13:04 Just raising our daughter and our grandkids and relatives auden's future. Do you want to see Aden? Go to college? Do you want to see him be a athlete?

13:30 You know, he's just a great boy and like to be around him.

13:42 What about about for Steven?

13:46 Auden's little brother Steven

13:49 I don't really know him that much though. He's only been on this planet for what three weeks. I hope he play sports. What about you and Aden?

14:17 Football football what about

14:22 Nevada basketball there's no telling right now. He's so young to you.

14:46 Okay, I guess I'm kind of back peddling but were you nervous when you found out you were going to be a parent? You have two kids were you nervous for you excited? Did you feel prepared?

14:59 We were so young now we weren't prepared and we were both working.

15:09 Hardly, even the song each other it was

15:16 Now, but it all worked out.

15:20 So do you have any secrets to your marriage you guys have been married a very long time and for someone like myself who's just early in a relationship. What's your advice? How do you do a Stay Together? Unfortunately, I was stationed in other places, so I didn't see her or see what was going on very much. But what about when you got back?

15:49 Then you guys back from the service. Yeah, and then he started working at the casino actually spent time.

16:01 Learning to be good and accountant and the do all the works with the army. So

16:14 From working in the Army was what I did.

16:19 At the beginning of it did you know I'd my major for a while was to be an accountant in pretty rough. That's a tough number crunching and all the math and the calculations. It was rough so I can props to you for doing that. So through all of that especially at 2 really huge casino is you're doing a lot of a lot of accounting. Yeah, Washington and Oregon and California.

17:01 Kept me busy. Kept me moving. So how was it working with Mom for a while. She worked at the casino while you were working at the casino. Was that fun working together?

17:14 Seeing each other when we were with her outside she got this just now she's starting to smoke. I just now.

17:33 Smoking for a while, Grandpa you and her you because when you're smoking

17:42 But that's one thing I wish you would do and not do as much her as well because I smoke a lot.

17:49 Kevin that was off track.

17:52 I guess one of the major things that we did was being involved with the

17:59 With the tribe both when we were in Sequim and now want to look forward to in the future.

18:09 What is the what is your tribe called in swim?

18:15 It's just this one.

18:18 Squim

18:20 Jamestown s'klallam tribe, is that another tribe? Okay. That's what I thought.

18:36 Okay. And do you have do you have siblings?

18:42 You have a sister right one sister, but you didn't meet her until you were a little bit older.

18:49 Well, it wasn't till my dad got out of the army. And that was the first time I ever met her.

19:01 Kind of interesting. It was interesting another town another state.

19:13 Did you keep in contact with her?

19:16 I have recently I didn't back then what we didn't.

19:22 Didn't they have ever seen each other have been so far away?

19:28 But you do have one brother as well, right?

19:33 Yes, very close growing up with him.

19:38 No, we thought of a lot within a year of the same age. So you guys high school as you did and Grandma.

19:54 Do you remember what kind of car you drove in high school?

19:58 I had a 1950 Ford a black one black line Thunderbird.

20:07 At one point I wanted one, but never had one I was

20:12 Oh you wanted one? Yeah, that's a nice 1950 Ford.

20:22 Grandma drove it more than you did. She didn't have a car here self.

20:29 No, she had to drive her.

20:32 Dad's car, okay.

20:35 So you drove around a lot?

20:40 Where is the car quite a bit?

20:46 So

20:50 We're rolling through this Grandpa.

20:57 So do you have any advice for young married couples? So for example, Candace and Patrick they just got married.

21:06 Are they together and

21:11 And I'll be honest with each other and

21:15 Is that the key grandma do?

21:27 Can you think of any memories that you would want to share maybe a memory with Grandma a fun memory or a memory with Mom?

21:37 We have rocks. I know there's so many.

21:43 We have had lots of fun with our family.

21:48 Just always enjoyed each other.

21:57 It's different old.

22:05 No, you're not. You're not old Grandpa.

22:08 I keep telling my wife I'm

22:15 Younger than her. I'm only 71. She's seventy something. I don't know Grandpa. You might be older.

22:31 I'm having a think cuz your birthday is in May and June June 9th. Mine was May 8th. So we're on a

22:45 A year

22:47 Difference about that

22:53 I had a question and I just lost it but I'll ask you this one. So for your great-grandchildren, so right now that's Auden and Steven have they were to listen to this years from now. Is there anything you would want to pass on to them? What would you want them to know about you?

23:16 Just to take care of your family and your friends.

23:22 Just

23:26 Just enjoy life, you know.

23:35 Do you want to ask me question?

23:38 I know the car you said you wanted to ask me some questions.

23:42 What would you ask me if you could ask me anything?

23:46 What things has the really would want to do?

23:50 In the future. I will know roughly would you want in the next few years, but overall?

24:00 There just so many things to do to learn and

24:06 Well, you know, I like to travel so that's my main that's the main thing. I want to be doing within the next couple years and I've been to a couple places with there so many other places in the world that I want to see still so that's my goal was to travel hit every continent hit all the all the places that I've been wanting to see I have my bucket list and I'm checking them off so early

24:33 That would be great. I'm glad I hope you get all the things that you wanted to do. All the things that you wanted to do. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go cuz I know you when I went to Peru you were saying he really wanted to go as well type things that I would like to have done.

25:01 Yeah right after.

25:06 It's just too many things too many things that I would like to have done.

25:13 Go back back and stay in the Army in.

25:18 Just going with college and the casino.

25:23 Raising your kids and grandkids a very good job.

25:31 I've enjoyed having my family. That's why the younger ones with the but they have to go through what we've gone through and now they have to go through the same kind of stuff. If you're watching this all go through. It used to drive me around going Christmas shopping I get to drive you around if I'm the driver now.

25:58 I can't drive anymore.

26:02 Dark drives, that's the problem which she drives the car is. Not a problem. She's a good driver, right?

26:16 Yeah, she hasn't killed me yet and she's doing okay if we were to go and get a tattoo today. What did you say you were going to get?

26:34 It would be a tribal identity My Tribe.

26:40 Yeah, but we can't get a tattoo, but I don't know if Grandma would like that very much. She just never wanted her kids that have tattoos. I know I know she's a little upset when she when I got my tattoos. Yep specially my my beer mug, that's my best one. That's my best work.

27:13 We could you could get grandma's name tattooed on you and she might accept and approve of that.

27:25 Dora MO

27:37 I think she would have proved.

27:41 She's going to wonder about this whole conversation.

27:54 This is very interesting to know more about what they've done, you know doing this just even getting started so I can show you is it basically for

28:12 People that have been in the military, is that why they're going from town to town? And I think it's just for anyone who wants to share their story. So people like you and me and coming and sharing our story and talking about your childhood and your memories and things like that that way

28:35 When Aden and Steven grow up they can access this when my kids grow up they can access this if I have kids what's going on with kids?

28:48 I want to learn everything I can about them as they're growing up.

28:57 Do you have any other questions for me?

29:00 What would you ask me?

29:06 Or what do you want to know that you don't know already?

29:14 What does it take to have a successful life and a successful marriage and your friend your whole family? What can you do to help him?

29:28 Oh gosh, that's a tough one, Grandpa.

29:33 I'm going through life like I'm going through it right now.

29:37 Working hard spending quality time with our family

29:48 You know, I don't know what you would do what I would have done that if I'd been very different from what it is. Now. I would have grown up in the tribe.

30:01 All different people feel different ideas

30:07 A whole different way of life

30:12 Do you feel that?

30:15 You've lived a good life that didn't use.

30:29 I think we're done. I think we have 10 minutes left.

30:35 Yeah, she had a lot of opportunities in your life and I still have a lot more facing me anxious to see what's going to happen over the next 10 years in the next 10 years. Auden will be will be in high school. Isn't that crazy? Covina High School? I probably have a girlfriend.

31:06 We find a sport crazy to think about.

31:12 How do you say darling?

31:14 If if you were to listen to this just Arden I would just like him to be happy with what he grew up with his wife what his family was.

31:28 Just want him to be happy and

31:31 Just keep going keep enjoying life.

31:36 And this don't give up. I think I forget words of advice Grandpa. Very good.

31:44 Okay, so I'll get I'll ask one more question. I kind of already asked it but so I feel that in life. You have a lot of relationships you form a lot of relationships with different people. Whether it's your friends your your siblings your children or your loved one. So I think throughout life if you have all these different types of relationships and different bonds, but there's always that one person that you have a very strong connection with that. You're always with side by side throughout your entire life pretty much for your entire life. And for that person for you. That's grandma.

32:28 So

32:29 I mean you and her together. I've been together for the past almost 60 years to see when Grandma raising kids going through life facing different obstacle challenges illnesses, but you guys have pushed through and you still together and you raised an amazing family and had amazing grandchildren. I don't know what I would just like the kind of end it with.

32:59 What would you what would you want to say to Grandma?

33:04 Just want her to know.

33:07 That we had

33:09 Fell in love in raised our family

33:13 Instilled still doing it in the further under the grandkids. Hope to be a part of their lives. Would you say grandma is one of the most important people in your life.

33:29 Yes, yeah.

33:32 Probably the most important.

33:35 You love her.

33:38 It's strange what you have to do.

33:42 Decide

33:46 If it's been so many changes over a lifetime that

33:51 It's hard to explain a lot of moves. But the one thing that has been consistent is in your life. At least is Grandma County. She's always there just basically just grandma.

34:12 You're a grandpa. Is there anything else?

34:17 No, just wishing you success and everything you do.

34:24 You got your life pretty pretty well planned out. I think you're going to enjoy life.

34:32 I am enjoying and did you ever think I was going to be a teacher?

34:36 When I was younger.

34:38 Know what you think I was going to be very involved with teachers cuz teachers raising my kids.

34:49 Xtreme stuff that went on it was interesting.

34:59 I guess just would like to see your life come out very happy your whole family.

35:10 Well, thank you and same for my mom.

35:13 I would ask the same message to her.

35:20 We're all of our relatives looking for the best of it for each one of them.

35:27 Help

35:29 That's what they always hope for and it's not.

35:33 Everything works out great for all your people your family.

35:38 Your friends

35:47 Well, we can wrap it up Grandpa. We talked for 40 minutes.

35:58 Well, thank you for doing this with me. I appreciate it.

36:04 I'm glad to do this.

36:07 I'm anxious to find out what's going on with you and with your family with everything.

36:19 Yeah, we'll see. We'll see what happens.

36:25 It's really interesting. Do you know when you're looking back that many years 70 some years trying to figure out?

36:35 What I should have done what I did wrong.

36:42 I don't know very difficult that you lived in very long fun.

36:50 And healthy full life. It has been fun and it's been

36:57 I've been trying to meet him really have enjoyed it. Just

37:02 Just a matter of what what what am I looking forward for everybody else? How how is their life going to go? Have a good is it going to be in the help that we can give give two of them?

37:23 Now you get to watch us go through everything you've done through.

37:28 I just be interesting to see you has been so many changes in her life and I are going to go forward go to go forward into it.

37:40 So now

37:42 Anxious to see what happens with your life.

37:47 Cuz it's it's your life and your family.

37:54 Well, I guess we'll see about the stay tuned and we'll do another one of these in the next five years or so, see how things have changed but remember anything.

38:10 All right, so, I think we're good here Grandpa. Now we can go to Red Lobster. Thank you for doing this Q.

38:25 That was 40 minutes.